GALESBURG, Ill. ­— The Knox College athletics department today announced its Male and Female Athletes of the Week for events that occurred between Sept. 22-28, with the honors going to senior Sam Black of the volleyball team and senior Pranav Nandakumar of the men's golf team.

Black, a defensive specialist from Willowbrook, Illinois, played a huge role in the five-set win at Rockford — the first victory this season for the Prairie Fire — with a career-high 46 digs. No player at Knox (or the Midwest Conference) had as many digs in a match in three years, and each and every one proved important with the contest going the distance with the Prairie Fire taking the decisive set, 15-13. Two days later, Black provided a team-high 12 digs during the sweep of Principia College in the home opener. For the season, Black ranks sixth in the league in digs per set (3.75).

A native of Chennai, India, Nandakumar was the steadying force for Knox at the Stateline Shootout in Ohio over the weekend. He turned in the low score on each day for the Fire, carding a 4-over 76 in the first round and a scintillating 1-under 71 with five birdies in the final round. Only three golfers among the 89 in the field finished under par over the final 18 holes, and Nandakumar tied for sixth place with his 3-over 147. His performance also earned him SLIAC Men's Golf Player of the Week honors.

The Knox Athletes of the Week will be announced every Tuesday afternoon throughout the athletic calendar.