By Amber Aniston
•
September 9, 2026
\ NC State survived nearly three hours of back-and-forth volleyball Tuesday night, defeating LSU 3-2 (23-25, 25-21, 26-24, 19-25, 15-12) at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge. The Wolfpack improved to 6-1 and earned their first true road victory of the 2026 season behind Britni Silver’s 22 kills and a 53-assist, 23-dig performance from setter Eva Long. Jordan Smith added 14 kills as NC State overcame LSU’s strong blocking performance and held off a late Tigers rally in the fifth set. LSU fell to 2-3 despite another huge performance from Jurnee Robinson, who finished with 25 kills and 14 digs for her third double-double of the season. LSU Takes Tight Opening Set The first set established what would become a night filled with narrow margins. LSU built an early 10-7 advantage , but NC State gradually worked its way back into the frame. The Tigers maintained a one-point edge before the Wolfpack eventually pulled even. LSU then moved ahead 21-19 , forcing NC State to use a timeout. The Tigers increased their advantage to 23-21, leading to another Wolfpack timeout. NC State stayed close, but LSU middle blocker Angelina Lee helped finish the frame with a block as the Tigers secured a 25-23 victory . It was only the beginning of a match that eventually featured 40 ties and 16 lead changes . Britni Silver Helps NC State Answer NC State responded in the second set. LSU briefly fought its way into the lead behind a Robinson kill, but Silver increasingly became the offensive difference for the Wolfpack. With NC State leading late, Silver scored on consecutive plays to help preserve a 22-19 advantage . The Wolfpack closed the frame 25-21 , tying the match at one set apiece. Silver finished the night with 22 kills , marking her second 20-kill performance in a span of four days. She also reached a career milestone when her 13th kill of the match gave her 100 career kills . Third Set Becomes Turning Point The third set produced the most significant momentum swing of the night. LSU appeared to have taken control late. The Tigers used a four-point run featuring a Robinson service ace, kill and block, along with a Jessica Jones kill, to put pressure on NC State. An attack error following a Wolfpack timeout helped LSU build a late advantage. But NC State refused to concede the set. A disputed block-touch call went against LSU during the closing stretch, and the Wolfpack continued its comeback. NC State's own recap says the Wolfpack trailed 19-16 before producing a 7-3 scoring run . The frame eventually went beyond 25 points, where NC State prevailed 26-24 . Instead of LSU taking a 2-1 advantage, the Wolfpack moved one set away from victory. LSU Forces a Fifth Set The Tigers responded with their best offensive frame of the match. LSU hit .389 in the fourth set , compared with NC State’s .156. The Tigers moved ahead 15-13 at the media timeout and continued creating separation. With LSU leading 22-17 , NC State called timeout, but the Wolfpack could not produce another comeback. LSU finished the frame 25-19 , forcing a deciding fifth set. After four sets, neither team had been able to establish lasting control. The fifth finally gave NC State the separation it needed. Wolfpack Erases Early Deficit in Fifth LSU scored the first two points of the deciding frame. NC State quickly answered. The Wolfpack caught fire and eventually built an 11-6 advantage , putting the Tigers in a difficult position. LSU continued fighting and narrowed the margin, forcing NC State to earn the final points. The Tigers saved match point multiple times, extending the fifth set despite the Wolfpack’s earlier five-point advantage. Smith finally ended it. Her 14th kill secured a 15-12 NC State victory , finishing a five-set road battle that lasted almost three hours. Britni Silver Records Another Double-Double Silver once again delivered when NC State needed offensive production. In addition to her 22 kills , she recorded a double-double, her third of the season. Her performance continued a productive stretch after another 20-plus-kill outing just days earlier. Smith also recorded a double-double, the first of her career , while contributing 14 kills. Middle blocker Talia Francom gave NC State another efficient attacking option. She finished with eight kills while hitting a match-best .412 and led the Wolfpack with five blocks. Sophie Groom added seven kills. Eva Long Delivers 53 Assists and 23 Digs Long played a major role in keeping NC State's offense functioning through five demanding sets. She finished with 53 assists and 23 digs , recording her third double-double of the season. It was also the second 53-assist performance of her career. Her 23 digs led NC State. The Wolfpack finished with 65 kills on 62 assists and collected 84 digs as a team. NC State's ability to generate kills became important because LSU held clear advantages in other areas. Jurnee Robinson Powers LSU With 25 Kills Robinson produced the biggest individual offensive total of the match. The LSU outside hitter finished with 25 kills and 14 digs , earning her third double-double of the season. She also recorded four blocks, including two solo blocks, and added an ace. Robinson totaled a match-high 29 points . She was central to LSU's success throughout the night, particularly during the late third-set surge and the Tigers' fourth-set response. Camryn Jeffery tied a career high with nine kills on .300 hitting , while Samara Coleman also recorded nine kills. LSU Dominates at the Net One of the most impressive aspects of LSU's performance came from its blocking. The Tigers finished with a season-high 13.5 blocks , nearly doubling NC State's seven. Jeffery, Jessica Jones and Lee each recorded five blocks . LSU also finished with 73 digs , its third match of the season with at least 70. Libero Kiley Brooks led the Tigers with season highs of 21 digs and three service aces , while also contributing six assists. Setter Takyla Brown recorded LSU's other double-double with 24 assists and 10 digs . Lauren Brooker added 17 assists and six digs. NC State Overcomes LSU’s Statistical Advantages LSU won several important statistical battles. The Tigers outblocked NC State 13.5-7 and held a 6-4 advantage in service aces . The overall hitting percentages were virtually identical, with one source listing both teams at approximately .180 for the match. NC State, however, finished with 65 kills and 84 digs , while finding the decisive points in the two closest sets it won. The Wolfpack captured the third 26-24 and the fifth 15-12. Those margins were enough. Wolfpack Continues Strong Start at 6-1 NC State improved to 6-1 , marking the second consecutive season in which the Wolfpack has lost only once through its first seven matches. The victory was also the 837th in program history , the 21st under head coach Megan Wargo-Kearney and the program's second win over an SEC opponent during her tenure. Most importantly, it gave NC State its first true road win of 2026 . For LSU, the loss was its third consecutive defeat and dropped the Tigers to 2-3. NC State Returns Home After Five-Set Thriller NC State returns to Reynolds Coliseum to host Belmont on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m. on ACCNX. LSU remains home and will try to end its three-match losing streak against Charlotte on Friday at 11 a.m. on SEC Network+. Tuesday's match offered little separation between the two programs. There were 40 ties. There were 16 lead changes. LSU won the blocking battle and received 25 kills from Robinson. NC State answered with Silver's 22 kills, Long's 53 assists and a crucial late finish from Smith. When the match finally reached its deciding moments, the Wolfpack made the final push. Smith's 14th kill ended the nearly three-hour battle and sent NC State out of Baton Rouge with a 3-2 victory over LSU .