Braaksma Named Academic All-American
Dec. 11, 2003
For the second straight season Melissa Braaksma, a senior middle hitter from Randolph, WI, was named to the Verizon Academic All-American Team. But this year was even more special since Braaksma received the highest honor after being selected to the First Team after making the Second Team last season.
Braaksma maintains a 4.0 grade point average with majors in Accounting and Business Administration.

Braaksma helped lead Lakeland to a record of 21-16 this season. She started all 37 matches and played in 122 games, with 359 kills, 95 digs, 122 blocks, 4 assists, and 42 service aces with a hitting percentage of .300. Braaksma was ranked in the top 30 nationally for blocking and is currently the school record holder for career blocks and single season blocks.

In conference only statistics this year, Braaksma finished 1st in blocks (1.84), 3rd in hitting percentage (.372), 9th in kills (3.14 per game), and 5th in aces (.46 per game). She was also named a 2003 LMC Player of the Week one time.

The Muskies concluded the season with their second straight undefeated regular season at 12-0. Along with being the LMC regular season champions, Lakeland earned their second straight NCAA bid, but fell in the first round in a close match verses UW-Whitewater.

Braaksma is a Wisconsin Valedictorian Scholar and a President of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Braaksma also served as the President of Future Corporate Leaders, was on the Campus Judicial Board, received the State of Wisconsin Academic Excellence Award, received the Wagner Accounting Award, and is a six-time Dean's List selection.