CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Miami Hurricanes hosted the LSU Tigers to kick off the Canes Classic, Friday, earning its first win of the season thanks to an impressive performance by freshman Ruth Martinez.

The Hurricanes improve to 1-7 on the season and 6-3 all-time against the Tigers.

Miami volleyball took the first two sets before LSU impressed in the third to pull itself within one. The Hurricanes got out to a quick start in the fourth and despite some fight from the Tigers, held on to defeat LSU, 3-1.

Martinez led the way for the Hurricanes, recording a career-high 26 kills at a .315 hitting percentage to pace the Miami offense. She also added four service aces and six blocks, sitting atop the Hurricanes’ defense as well.

Ariana Rodriguez recorded her first double-double of the season and only Miami’s second of the 2026 campaign, tallying 35 assists and 13 digs.

Defensively, freshman Denitsa Angelova led the way with 7 blocks, improving her team lead to 25.

Set 1: Miami 25, LSU 20
The Miami Hurricanes opened the match strong, taking a quick 2-0 lead on back-to-back Ruth Martinez kills. LSU powered back, scoring six straight points to put itself in front. The Hurricanes continued to battle, slowly chipping away to tie the set at seven, before the Tigers scored three more points to take a 10-7 lead. Once again, Miami battled back, capitalizing on two Tigers’ errors, a Denitsa Angelova and Sonja Danilovic block, and an Asia Harvey ace to retake the lead.

The Tigers tied the match at 11 and again at 13 and 14 points apiece, but the Hurricanes outscored LSU 11-5 down the stretch to take the first set. Martinez finished the set with 11 kills, matching her season high set in the opener at Michigan State.

Set 2: Miami 25, LSU 19
The two teams played a close second set with neither team posting more than a two-point lead until Miami led 21-18. Martinez tallied five kills and three blocks in the second set, but Denitsa Angelova, Logan Wiley, and Asia Harvey also made an impact. Angelova recorded two blocks, including a solo block, as she continues to lead the way for the Miami defense. Wiley added a kill and two blocks of her own while Harvey recorded three kills, her first three of the match.

With the set tied at 15, Miami created a lead with kills from Martinez and Harvey. The Tigers were able to pull themselves within one point three more times throughout the course of the set, but leading 21-18, the Hurricanes saw a Gaby Arroyo ace, an Angelova block, and a few Tigers’ errors to earn the second set victory.

Set 3: LSU 25, Miami 12
The Tigers went on a 5-0 run to start the third set and never looked back, defeating the Hurricanes 25-12 and making it a 2-1 game. Miami went on a 5-2 run to make it a two-point game, but LSU controlled from there, outscoring the Hurricanes 18-7 to take the third set.

Set 4: Miami 25, LSU 20
It was Miami’s turn to post an early run in set four, going up 8-3 to force a Tigers’ timeout. The Hurricanes went into the timeout thanks to a Martinez ace and Rodriguez kill, before coming out of it with yet another Martinez ace, her fourth of the match. Miami held its lead the rest of the way, but not for a lack of fight from the Tigers, as the closest they pulled was within four, keeping the Hurricanes on their toes until the final point, recorded by Martinez.

Up Next: The Miami Hurricanes will wrap the Canes Classic on Saturday, Sept. 19, taking on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, a team receiving votes in the national polls. Miami will look to earn wins over Tulsa in back-to-back seasons, after defeating the Golden Hurricane in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2025. First serve is set for 1 p.m.