In the last match of the 2025 regular season, LSU volleyball clutched a huge 3-2 win against Auburn after coming back from a 2-1 match deficit.
The Tigers defeated Auburn 25-21, 14-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-12 in one last five-set thriller at the PMAC this volleyball season.
After a recent loss suffered against Georgia earlier in the week, the Tigers hoped to end the season on a high note before preparation for the SEC Volleyball Tournament began.
On the other side of the net, Auburn traveled to Baton Rouge on a three-match losing streak, the last two against No. 4 Texas and No. 6 Texas A&M, teams that the Tigers also fell to earlier in conference play.
In the opening set, Auburn held a 15-14 lead against LSU heading into the official media timeout. LSU bounced back on a 5-0 run and forced an Auburn timeout with a now 19-16 lead. Three of those five points belonged to outside hitter Nia Washington, who recorded three kills to elevate the offense.
Auburn burned its final timeout as LSU created distance to push its lead to 23-19, and eventually the Tigers took the first set 25-21.
In the second set, LSU hit a mental block on its side of the net.
The Tigers started on a 4-0 run, but Auburn came back with a 4-0 run of its own to take a 12-9 lead over LSU and force the Tigers to burn their first timeout.
Auburn continued to build its lead as eight points were scored that LSU couldn’t seem to retaliate against, taking its final timeout. Tiger efforts were no use against Auburn in this set, as Auburn took the set 25-14.
The third was another rough set for the Tigers, but was ultimately the mental turning point of the match that they needed.
LSU trailed 8-3 to Auburn and was quickly forced to burn through its first timeout of the set. The Tigers then fell to a 15-9 deficit, but came back to trail by only one point as Auburn clung on to an 18-17 lead. Auburn fought and didn’t give up the lead after the set was tied at 18, and took the third set 25-22.
In the fourth, LSU had to come back. The Tigers did not want to end their season on a tough loss and needed to find a strategy.
What did they do? Exactly that.
At the official media timeout, LSU led 15-14 after a tight beginning of the set went underway, both teams going back to back. Following, LSU advanced its lead to 20-15 which forced Auburn to burn through both of its timeouts within minutes. The Tigers took the set 25-20 and kept their hopes alive for a match win.
Now, another five-set match on LSU’s season could go either way.
The Tigers are known for their fifth-set comebacks. In matches that have pushed to five sets this season, the Tigers have won five of the seven.
LSU led the fifth set 6-4 to force the first Auburn timeout. Out of the break, outside hitter Jurnee Robinson put down a handful of kills to give LSU a 10-6 lead, bringing Tiger fans to their feet. Shortly after, Auburn tied the set at 12-12 to force LSU to burn both of its timeouts.
With both teams out of timeouts, communication and trust between teammates was crucial.
The next few plays would come down to the Tigers’ defense and their ability to trust each other.
Huge blocks by middle blocker Jessica Jones and setter Takyla Brown sealed the match for LSU. The Tigers took a 15-12 set win and a 3-2 match win to end their season with momentum.
Concluding the regular season, LSU overall sits at 13-13 and finishes conference play with a 6-9 record.
Multiple Tigers contributed to the match efforts on offense. Robinson concluded the night with 28 kills on a .339 hitting percentage, two aces and 12 digs. Washington followed with a season-high 23 kills and 11 digs.
Brown, the freshman setter, had herself a dominant night in terms of performance, contributing 35 assists, eight digs and two blocks. Fellow setter Lauren Brooker added 18 assists and 10 digs, while libero Aly Kirkhoff followed with a career-high 11 assists and 15 digs. Libero Ella Hemmings tallied on 15 more digs and middle blocker Angelina Lee led the team with six blocks.
LSU will make its return next week in the SEC Volleyball Tournament to face conference opponents and fight for a championship title.
