ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Concordia University athletic department has released the CU Athletes of the Week, with Matt Alford (Golf) and Maria Steinhagen (Volleyball) each earning their first nod.

Alford, a senior from Orono, Minn., shot a career-best round of 72 on the first day of the Concordia University Invitational before coming back on day two with his third-best round with a 76. The first round was par for the course, the first time in his career he has achieved a par/- round. He ended up shooting a 148, finishing just four strokes over par for the tournament to tie for fourth place. The veteran golfer has now competed in 57 career rounds at CU with a career average of 84.0. He is having the best year of his career thus far, averaging a 79.7 through 10 rounds of play, nearly four strokes better than his previous career-low average of 83.2 as a sophomore in 16 rounds.

Steinhagen, a senior middle hitter from Alexandria, Minn., cleared the 1,000 kill mark in NSIC play last week.  She was the leading offensive attacker against Bemidji State on Friday evening, notching 15 kills with a single error for a .667 hitting average.  She opened the second set with her 1,000th kill, becoming one of nine Golden Bear athletes on the 1,000 Kill List.  On the week, Steinhagen averaged 3.67 kills per game with a .487 hitting average.  She also averaged 1.00 blocks per game, including two solo and two assisted in a 3-0 win over #16 Minnesota Duluth. The senior leader of the top-ranked team in the nation has helped the Golden Bears to 21 consecutive victories, tying the school record.