Volleyball Opens 2026 Season Versus Wake Forest, Incarnate WordVolleyball Opens 2026 Season Versus Wake Forest, Incarnate Word

Volleyball Opens 2026 Season Versus Wake Forest, Incarnate Word

LSU is 41-9 all-time in season openers at the Maravich Center and has won seven of its last nine.

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BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU volleyball team opens the 2026 season at home with a pair of matches against Wake Forest and Incarnate Word on Aug. 28-29 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The Tigers open the season at 6 p.m. CT Friday, Aug. 28, against Wake Forest before concluding the weekend against Incarnate Word at 6 p.m. CT Saturday, Aug. 29. Both matches will stream live on SEC Network+, with Lyn Rollins and Garrett Walvoord calling Friday's match, and Andrew Beyer joining Rollins on Saturday's call.

Fans attending tournament matches during university hours (7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) may park free of charge in the following lots: 101, 104, 202, and 300. Tickets are required for all LSU matches. The home tournament full schedule, as well as a marking map, can be viewed here.

LSU is 41-9 all-time when opening its season at the Maravich Center and has won seven of its last nine home openers. The Tigers return 14 players from last season, led by senior outside hitter Jurnee Robinson, who was named to the 2026 Preseason All-SEC Team.

Robinson earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention recognition last season and is a three-time AVCA All-Region and All-SEC selection. She led the SEC in 2025 with 5.34 points per set and 4.84 kills per set. Entering the 2026 season, Robinson ranks as LSU's career leader in points per set (5.09) and kills per set (4.54) and is fourth in the rally-scoring era with 1,352 career kills.

Other key returners include middle blockers Jessica Jones and Angelina Lee, who combined for 278 kills while hitting .300, and accounted for 185 total blocks together.

LSU welcomes six newcomers, including a pair of transfers in sophomore outside hitter Samara Coleman and senior setter Martina Villani. Coleman transferred from TCU, while Villani joins the Tigers from Akron. LSU's four freshmen are defensive specialist Kiley Brooks (Justin, Texas), middle blocker/pin hitter Hannah Lee (Frisco, Texas), defensive specialist Katie Raymer (Apex, N.C.), and middle blocker Djay Seaward (Plano, Texas).

LSU is 2-0 all-time against Wake Forest, sweeping the Demon Deacons in 2006 and 2011. Saturday's matchup with Incarnate Word will mark the first meeting between the Tigers and Cardinals.

For the latest news and information on Tiger volleyball, visit www.lsusports.net/volleyball. Fans can follow the team on its social media outlets, such as www.facebook.com/lsuvolleyball and @lsuvolleyball, as well as on Instagram and X.

Scouting Wake Forest

Wake Forest was picked 10th in the 2026 ACC Preseason Poll after finishing the 2025 season 15-16 overall and 9-11 in conference play.

The Demon Deacons return setter Becca Bellows, who led the team with 5.30 assists per set (599 total) last season; outside hitter Patrycja Lagida, who paced the team with 32 aces; and middle blocker Sanaa Williams, who led Wake Forest with 111 blocks.

Scouting Incarnate Word

Incarnate Word was picked sixth in the 2026 Southland Conference Preseason Poll after finishing the 2025 season 17-13 overall and 12-4 in conference play. The Cardinals' 12 conference wins set a program record, and their 17 overall victories tied the program's Division I-era record.

Senior pin hitter Kitana Tu'ufuli is UIW's leading returning offensive player, averaging 2.74 kills per set (233 total) and hitting .252 last season. Junior setter Calissa Allison directed the Cardinals' offense with 8.18 assists per set, while also leading the team with 40 aces and adding 33 blocks. She also contributed 148 kills from the right side. Sophomore libero Ashton Rogers rounds out UIW's top returners after averaging 4.16 digs per set last season while adding 18 aces.