University of Tennessee Athletics
HANSEN DOUBLES AS GREAT PLAYER AND PERSON ON ROCKY TOP
September 19, 2019 | Volleyball
By Dom Palumbo
The double-double.
When an athlete records double-digit figures in at least two statistical categories. This stat is quite common in the sport of basketball. In the sport of volleyball? It occurs much less frequently.
In the history of Tennessee volleyball, only 15 players have 10 or more double-doubles in their career.
One of those players in senior, Lady Vol setter, Sedona Hansen who has made the double-double a part of her identity on Rocky Top.
She currently sits third all-time in program history—passing Kelsey Robinson in UT's last match, tallying 10 or more assists and digs on 50 separate occasions.
A number, astounding by itself, is elevated by the constant change in system throughout Hansen's career.
In the game of volleyball, there are two main offensive strategies that are generally used. The 6-2 and the 5-1.
The 6-2 formation is centered around the rotation of two setters and six hitters, meaning Hansen is on the floor for three of the team's six rotations.
The 5-1, revolves around one setter and the rotation of five hitters, meaning Hansen remains on the floor for all six rotations.
Two systems, that to the ordinary eye look incredibly similar, are vastly different in how the offense ebbs and flows.
"At first it was a big challenge," Hansen recalled. "Going back and forth was also really difficult, because let's say we were planning on pre-determining the 6-2 and the next thing you know they're telling us to switch back to the 5-1."
It's an entirely different mind-set and having to go back and forth with that was kind of challenging, but after I got thrown into both, unknowingly multiple times I got used to it and it became much easier."
Despite the learning curve of playing in a 6-2 for the first time, Hansen learned how to facilitate the Lady Vol offense no matter the system.
"Personally, I've grown up running a 5-1, so that's what I'm comfortable with, what I'm used to and what I've been taught," Hansen said. "My sophomore year here was the first time I got thrown in to a 6-2 and that was completely new to me. I'm a little bit more used to it now, but it's still hard to come off of three rotations, while getting ready to go for the next set. As soon as I get going, it's easier to keep the flow of the match going. Either way, whichever system is going to give us the best chance to win, that's the one I want to run."
She's a player that is versatile in all areas. She's one of the best setters and defensive players in the SEC. She can play multiple systems. She can even get up a little bit. The 5-foot-8 spark plug proved it by adding a block and a kill to her score line in UT's home opener against Illinois on August 30th.
This versatility comes from necessity. Hansen, a Wrightwood, California native, grew up playing the sport on a slightly different surface compared to what we see in Thompson-Boling Arena.
"Growing up in California I started playing beach (volleyball) at about the same time I started playing indoor," Hansen said. "With beach volleyball you definitely need a different mindset than with indoor, because you have to know essentially every skill. Whether it's reading a hitter better, hitting, blocking, setting, defense along with communicating with one person instead of five other people, it's a lot different. Beach I believe made me the versatile player I am for indoor."
Her ability to change a match in a multitude of ways has her name plastered across the Lady Vol record book. She's led the Orange & White in assists per set each of the last three seasons—and is on pace to do so again in 2019, her mark of 11.19 assists per set in 2016 is the second highest ratio in program history, behind Mary Pollmiller's 11.94 from 2011, her career assists per set ratio of 8.03 currently places her ninth all-time and she's on pace to become just the third Lady Vol to record over 2,000 assists and 1,000 digs in a career.
"I feel really fortunate that Sedona is our setter," head coach Eve Rackham said. "When we came in, it was clear that she had a very unique skill-set. Not all setters are known for their defense. So, to have a setter that embraces defense the way that she does, and enjoys defense the way she does, it just adds to her overall game and we have all of the confidence in the world when they hit at her.
Most teams, when they hit at the opposing setter, it's a strategy, but when they do it against us, it puts us at an advantage, because she can cover so much ground. She embraces it and likes being a good defender and takes pride in that."
With all of this success on the court, Hansen is also busy making an impact off the floor.
She is marketing major who hopes to one day work in the field of sports marketing.
She is volleyball's SAAC representative, where every week she learns new and effective ways to positively impact the community in and around Knoxville.
One of those ways includes her Yorkie puppy, Junior.
"SAAC has taught me a lot about community outreach. I didn't realize how impactful student-athletes can be in the community. I also didn't realize how many avenues there are to help people. I just learned about them in SAAC which was pretty cool. It makes me want to continue that even after college. For instance, I have a dog (named Junior) and I want to be able to train him to be a therapy dog at children's hospitals. I didn't think about that option at first, but SAAC provided that option to me. It's an option that hopefully a few years down the road he can help children at hospitals."
Along, with her impact off the floor, Hansen also likes to adventure like the true Californian she is.
"I definitely like to be active (off the court). I like to snowboard. I'm currently learning how to skateboard and I know how to longboard."
Rackham, a Sebastopol, California native understands the lifestyle of her record-setting captain.
"Anything our players do outside of volleyball we worry a bit, but she's a smart kid," Rackham said. "She wants to play volleyball for a long time and she's been able to keep herself relatively healthy, but we do prefer that they keep those extreme things to a minimum."
She lives a busy life. Balancing days filled with volleyball, classes, pets and a bit of fun every now and then. Through it all, her backbone has been senior middle blocker Alyssa Andreno.
Every great setter needs a great front-line player to help put the ball away. For four years, Hansen and Andreno have been that combination. Trusting one another through every on-court situation, good or bad.
"We just trust each other," Hansen said. "Even if she hits two out, I still want to set her again, because I just know she's going to put one away. If I set her too high or too low, she knows that I'm going to come back and give her a good one."
They have a bond that's difficult to describe in words, but it's a bond that will stay with the duo for the rest of their lives.
"We're bonded for life," Andreno said. "We've been through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows together. When you live with someone for four years you get a different perspective of the person. She's just a steady constant that's been in my life for four years, and honestly even before that. When we would come to camp she was my roommate. She's someone who is so selfless and so loving. Anything you ever need she's like 'I got you.' She's a friend and almost a sister. We've seen each other at our best and our worst, and I think that just bonds you in a different way. I love her with all of my heart. I really do."
As Hansen's career in the Orange & White reaches its final stages, it's clear that all of Vol Nation will be bonded to their double-double machine for years to come.
The double-double.
When an athlete records double-digit figures in at least two statistical categories. This stat is quite common in the sport of basketball. In the sport of volleyball? It occurs much less frequently.
In the history of Tennessee volleyball, only 15 players have 10 or more double-doubles in their career.
One of those players in senior, Lady Vol setter, Sedona Hansen who has made the double-double a part of her identity on Rocky Top.
She currently sits third all-time in program history—passing Kelsey Robinson in UT's last match, tallying 10 or more assists and digs on 50 separate occasions.
A number, astounding by itself, is elevated by the constant change in system throughout Hansen's career.
In the game of volleyball, there are two main offensive strategies that are generally used. The 6-2 and the 5-1.
The 6-2 formation is centered around the rotation of two setters and six hitters, meaning Hansen is on the floor for three of the team's six rotations.
The 5-1, revolves around one setter and the rotation of five hitters, meaning Hansen remains on the floor for all six rotations.
Two systems, that to the ordinary eye look incredibly similar, are vastly different in how the offense ebbs and flows.
"At first it was a big challenge," Hansen recalled. "Going back and forth was also really difficult, because let's say we were planning on pre-determining the 6-2 and the next thing you know they're telling us to switch back to the 5-1."
It's an entirely different mind-set and having to go back and forth with that was kind of challenging, but after I got thrown into both, unknowingly multiple times I got used to it and it became much easier."
Despite the learning curve of playing in a 6-2 for the first time, Hansen learned how to facilitate the Lady Vol offense no matter the system.
"Personally, I've grown up running a 5-1, so that's what I'm comfortable with, what I'm used to and what I've been taught," Hansen said. "My sophomore year here was the first time I got thrown in to a 6-2 and that was completely new to me. I'm a little bit more used to it now, but it's still hard to come off of three rotations, while getting ready to go for the next set. As soon as I get going, it's easier to keep the flow of the match going. Either way, whichever system is going to give us the best chance to win, that's the one I want to run."
She's a player that is versatile in all areas. She's one of the best setters and defensive players in the SEC. She can play multiple systems. She can even get up a little bit. The 5-foot-8 spark plug proved it by adding a block and a kill to her score line in UT's home opener against Illinois on August 30th.
This versatility comes from necessity. Hansen, a Wrightwood, California native, grew up playing the sport on a slightly different surface compared to what we see in Thompson-Boling Arena.
"Growing up in California I started playing beach (volleyball) at about the same time I started playing indoor," Hansen said. "With beach volleyball you definitely need a different mindset than with indoor, because you have to know essentially every skill. Whether it's reading a hitter better, hitting, blocking, setting, defense along with communicating with one person instead of five other people, it's a lot different. Beach I believe made me the versatile player I am for indoor."
Her ability to change a match in a multitude of ways has her name plastered across the Lady Vol record book. She's led the Orange & White in assists per set each of the last three seasons—and is on pace to do so again in 2019, her mark of 11.19 assists per set in 2016 is the second highest ratio in program history, behind Mary Pollmiller's 11.94 from 2011, her career assists per set ratio of 8.03 currently places her ninth all-time and she's on pace to become just the third Lady Vol to record over 2,000 assists and 1,000 digs in a career.
"I feel really fortunate that Sedona is our setter," head coach Eve Rackham said. "When we came in, it was clear that she had a very unique skill-set. Not all setters are known for their defense. So, to have a setter that embraces defense the way that she does, and enjoys defense the way she does, it just adds to her overall game and we have all of the confidence in the world when they hit at her.
Most teams, when they hit at the opposing setter, it's a strategy, but when they do it against us, it puts us at an advantage, because she can cover so much ground. She embraces it and likes being a good defender and takes pride in that."
With all of this success on the court, Hansen is also busy making an impact off the floor.
She is marketing major who hopes to one day work in the field of sports marketing.
She is volleyball's SAAC representative, where every week she learns new and effective ways to positively impact the community in and around Knoxville.
One of those ways includes her Yorkie puppy, Junior.
"SAAC has taught me a lot about community outreach. I didn't realize how impactful student-athletes can be in the community. I also didn't realize how many avenues there are to help people. I just learned about them in SAAC which was pretty cool. It makes me want to continue that even after college. For instance, I have a dog (named Junior) and I want to be able to train him to be a therapy dog at children's hospitals. I didn't think about that option at first, but SAAC provided that option to me. It's an option that hopefully a few years down the road he can help children at hospitals."
Along, with her impact off the floor, Hansen also likes to adventure like the true Californian she is.
"I definitely like to be active (off the court). I like to snowboard. I'm currently learning how to skateboard and I know how to longboard."
Rackham, a Sebastopol, California native understands the lifestyle of her record-setting captain.
"Anything our players do outside of volleyball we worry a bit, but she's a smart kid," Rackham said. "She wants to play volleyball for a long time and she's been able to keep herself relatively healthy, but we do prefer that they keep those extreme things to a minimum."
She lives a busy life. Balancing days filled with volleyball, classes, pets and a bit of fun every now and then. Through it all, her backbone has been senior middle blocker Alyssa Andreno.
Every great setter needs a great front-line player to help put the ball away. For four years, Hansen and Andreno have been that combination. Trusting one another through every on-court situation, good or bad.
"We just trust each other," Hansen said. "Even if she hits two out, I still want to set her again, because I just know she's going to put one away. If I set her too high or too low, she knows that I'm going to come back and give her a good one."
They have a bond that's difficult to describe in words, but it's a bond that will stay with the duo for the rest of their lives.
"We're bonded for life," Andreno said. "We've been through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows together. When you live with someone for four years you get a different perspective of the person. She's just a steady constant that's been in my life for four years, and honestly even before that. When we would come to camp she was my roommate. She's someone who is so selfless and so loving. Anything you ever need she's like 'I got you.' She's a friend and almost a sister. We've seen each other at our best and our worst, and I think that just bonds you in a different way. I love her with all of my heart. I really do."
As Hansen's career in the Orange & White reaches its final stages, it's clear that all of Vol Nation will be bonded to their double-double machine for years to come.
Players Mentioned
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