Techniques are disclosed for load balancing in networks such as those networks handling telephony applications. By way of example, a method for directing requests associated with calls to servers in a system comprised of a network routing calls between a plurality of nodes wherein a node participates in a call as a caller or a receiver and wherein a load balancer sends requests associated with calls to a plurality of servers comprises the following steps. A request associated with a node belonging to a group including a plurality of nodes is received. A server is selected to receive the request. A subsequent request is received. A determination is made whether or not the subsequent request is associated with a node belonging to the group. The subsequent request is sent to the server based on determining that the subsequent request is associated with a node belonging to the group.