Northern State volleyball continues to move up in the national poll, now ranked 22nd in NCAA Division II.

The Wolves split their opening weekend of Northern Sun Intercollege Conference play with a victory over Sioux Falls, 25-21, 24-26, 25-14, 25-23. In that match, Natalia Szybinska had a 0.556 attacking percentage, pounding out 24 kills, one shy of her career best. From the service line, Mia Hinsz, Reese Johnson, and Victoria Persha all had 2 aces, with Persha adding 9 assisted blocks on the defensive side.

NSU dropped its second match of the weekend to 8th-ranked Wayne State (Neb.) in three sets, 25-19, 25-19, and 25-18. Hanna Thompson led the Wolves with 12 kills, while Szybinska contributed 11. Hinsz had another two aces from the service line.

Szybinska earned the NSIC Offensive Player of the Week with 35 kills hitting .386 on the weekend.

Soccer also began conference play last weekend with a win over MSU Moorhead 3-0. Maliyah Ritthirak found the goal for the first time in her collegiate career in the 33rd minute assisted by Lauren Youngquist. Chloe Voss scored for the first time this year in the 60th minute, assisted by Sophie Taylor, extending the lead to 2-0. The final goal of the game came from Jaylee Hofer, her first of her collegiate career, on a Ritthirak assist in the 87th minute. Alexus Townsend tallied three saves in her shutout against the Dragons.

In their second game of the weekend, Wolves soccer had a 1-1 draw at Minot State. It was a quiet first half, with Minot State finding the goal first in the 67th minute. Shortly after, Youngquist scored, assisted by Megan Fastenau in the 73rd minute. Townsend finished with five saves on the day.

Wolves cross country competed in the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis. Nathan Alto crossed the line in 34th place out of 358 runners with a time of 26:58.2. Abby Hasart, a transfer from Dakota Wesleyan, led the way for the women finishing 42nd out of 303 with a time of 24:21.5.

Wolves football traveled to Augustana to take on the 18th-ranked Vikings and fell 41-7. Augustana scored 34 straight points in the first half, before the Wolves found the endzone on their last drive of the half, scoring with 58 seconds on a 8-yard pass to Ty Wiley, his first TD of the year.

Colton Hackel started his first game of the year under center and threw for 102 yards and one touchdown. Hank Kraft led the game on the ground with 40 yards on 11 carries. Jacob Van Landingham reeled in 34 receiving yards on 3 catches. On the defensive side, Jake Adams had 15 tackles, followed by Ivan Martin with 8. Kegan Mountain recorded his second interception of the year, while Lynden Williams got his first. Tom Ellard averaged 46.9 yards per punt on 7 attempts, 3 over 50 yards and a long of 73.

The Wolves Swim and Dive team will jump in the pool for the first time this year with a NSU Relay Meet beginning at 6 tonight at the Aberdeen YMCA. On Saturday, the Wolves will host Mary and Southwest Minnesota State at 10 a.m.

The Swim and Dive team enters the season ranked 7th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll. Abbegael Nynas, a freshman from Billings, Montana, was named as the Swimmer to Watch, and Jacie Flockhart was named as the Diver to Watch for the Wolves.

Wolves volleyball will play at 4th-ranked Southwest Minnesota State tonight. They will play at Augustana on Saturday, a team they previously beat in five sets in the second match of the season.

Wolves soccer will also be on the road taking on Concordia-St. Paul tonight. They then play at Winona State on Sunday.

Wolves football is back in Dacotah Bank Stadium after having two road games. They will take on Winona State at 6 p.m. Saturday in the AG Bowl.