The Concordia University athletic department has selected Tyrone Ruffin (Football) and Emily Palkert (Volleyball) as this week's CU Athlete of the Week.

Tyrone Ruffin (WR, 6-2, 200, Sr., Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata HS) continues to shine in his senior season, hauling in seven receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 64 yarder. His second touchdown from 18 yards out tied the game at 21 in the third quarter before Concordia eventually lost 42-21 to Augustana on Homecoming. Already CU’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns with 29, Ruffin is closing in on two more career receiving marks, receptions and yards. With 170 receptions and 2,596 yards, he is now 30 receptions and 147 yards shy of Joseph Mapson’s (2001-03) records. He is currently third on the receptions list, passing Joel Schuldheisz (1974-77) who had 166 career grabs. He is six catches behind Antwon Williams (2003-07) for second and already ranks second in yardage, ahead of Joe Mapson (2000-02), who had 2,293.

Emily Palkert (MH, 5-11, So., Excelsior, Minn.) averaged 4.44 kills per set while hitting at a blistering .451 average through three Concordia University wins last week.  She was unstoppable in the Golden Bears’ 3-0 win over #8 Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday, rocketing 16 kills in 30 attempts.  She was also a force at the net, collecting a solo block and four block assists in the huge conference victory.  On the week, Palkert racked up 40 kills with just eight errors, roofed hitters three times on her own and combined with teammates for eight block assists.  She had at least three blocks in each match.