RIVER FALLS, Wis.

Tuesday, December 14, 1999

RIVER FALLS, Wis. – Melissa Mattson was a three-sport standout at Alden-Conger High School, starring in volleyball and basketball while playing a major role in softball.

She narrowed it to one sport at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. But she’s still a standout.

A middle hitter on the UW-River Falls volleyball team, Mattson was recently selected to the 1999 AVCA All-American Second Team.

Mattson, a 6-foot-1 junior, was second on her team with 424 kills this past season while leading River Falls with a hitting percentage of .304. She was second on the team with 19 solo blocks and 97 assists.

&uot;Melissa exemplifies the type of person who is an All-American,&uot; said UWRF coach Patti Ford. &uot;She plays a consistent game, works hard, and has perfected the slide maneuver which she excels at. She is very deserving of the honor.&uot;

Mattson was named to the AVCA All-Midwest Region Team in 1998 and 1999 and to the first All-WIAC teams in 1998 and 1999.

This past season, the Falcons finished with an overall record of 30-7 and won the WIAC regular-season championship with an 8-0 record. The team competed in the NCAA Division III championship for the the fourth time in the last five years.

Mattson joins Cara Gustafson and Jen Frodl as Falcons who have been named All-American. Gustafson and Frodl won the honor in 1996.

Mattson is the daughter of Dennis and Nancy Mattson of Alden.