ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Concordia University athletic department has selected a pair of first timers as this week's CU Male and Female Athletes of the Week, with junior Cory Pike (Golf) and senior Mary Slinger (Volleyball) earning the honors.

Cory Pike (Jr., Princeton, Minn.) turned in a career day for the Golden Bears shooting a career-low 71. Pike finished 10th out of 120 finishers at the North Oaks Golf Course.. The junior just missed out on his first career medalist honor as 9 other players finished with a 70 and all tied for 1st. Pike shot a 72 last weekend at the NSIC Championships, and improved on his score yesterday to shoot a new career-low round of 71.

Mary Slinger (L, 5-8, Sr., Faribault, Minn. / Bethlehem Academy HS) once again proved why she is the reigning two-time NSIC Libero of the Year, picking up 51 digs for a 7.29 average as the Golden Bears improved to 10-0 on the NSIC slate.  Slinger did what few athletes are capable of doing, going over the 30-dig mark for the first time this season in a win over a determined Bemidji State squad.  Slinger helped keep her Golden Bears undefeated on the year by taking in 31 digs and working hard on serve receive.  In a 3-0 win over #10 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday evening, Slinger led all players with 20 digs.  Slinger pressured the Bulldog passers in a school record 25-5 third set, keeping UMD out of system during an 11-0 run. Slinger’s 7.29 average on the weekend brought her season average up to 5.21 digs per set, which is second best in the NSIC.