If there was one thing that Huskers fans were eager to witness in LOVB, it was Lexi Rodriguez playing professional volleyball. But while the league had been rolling since January, one thing remained unchanged sight of Lexi’s pro debut. That all changed in early February when LOVB Omaha clashed with LOVB Salt Lake at the Maverik Center. Omaha was not short of star-studded players, thanks to the Olympic gold medalists Jordan Larson and Justine Wong-Orantes, who played for Nebraska. For the fans, it was all about watching the young libero perform. And when she did? She made it count.

On February 9, sharing the story, Rodriguez posted a clip of the match, which was her very first ace as a professional. The cherry on top? That ace was in the form of a 3-2 victory for Omaha. But just when it felt like the Lexi Rodriguez era had truly begun, things took a frustrating turn. The libero, whose defensive skills are nothing short of elite, has been riding the bench for quite some time now. And to say fans aren’t happy would be an understatement.

On February 28, Avid Volley hopped on X to drop a stat that had fans absolutely fuming. They wrote, “We’re two months into the LOVB season and the only liberos to not start a match are Omaha’s Lexi Rodriguez and Annie Cesar. What a waste of opportunity and resources.” That one hit hard. And honestly? The frustration is real. Fans have been waiting, hoping, and hyping up Lexi Rodriguez’s moment, only to see her stuck on the sidelines.

Avid Volley wasn’t done yet—they went back to their own post to add further, “This isn’t about JWO either (who is the best). But placing Rodriguez on a team that has the best American libero is??? Lexi brings as many eyes to the sport as any American right now and for what? To do fashion shoots and dances on the bench?” Oof, shots fired! And honestly? They kinda have a point.

Well, here is the thing—on one side, you have Justine Wong-Orantes, a seasoned Olympic gold medalist. On the other, Lexi Rodriguez, the young powerhouse who, only in December, set a new record after beating JWO’s Nebraska school record of 1,897 career digs. Talk about best of the best all in one squad. Sounds amazing in theory, right? But in reality? It’s a numbers game, and when two elite liberos share a team, somebody’s gotta take a backseat. Well, right now, that somebody is Lexi. But hold up—this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Fans frustrated with Lexi being benched!

Another fan jumped into the conversation, bluntly putting it out there: “Another LOVB Omaha match, another day Lexi Rodriguez sits on the bench.” And yeah, that about sums it up. LOVB Omaha went head-to-head with LOVB Madison just a few hours ago, and—surprise, surprise—Lexi was nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, Madison, who had been stuck in a brutal six-week losing streak, finally broke free, taking down Omaha in a four-set battle: 18-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-21. So naturally, fans couldn’t help but wonder—would the outcome have been different if Lexi had been on that court?

And speaking of game-changers, opposite Annie Drews-Schumacher was absolutely on fire, racking up 23 kills—seven in the second set, seven more in the fourth—and pretty much carrying Madison to victory. The win snapped their eight-match losing streak, including two tough losses at the LOVB Classic. And as the dust settled, fans had one more thought on their minds: “Annie Drews-Schumacher was on a heater. That was some of the best played volleyball I’ve seen live. Lexi Rodriguez and Justine Wong-Orantes should be on different teams.” Because let’s be real—when two star liberos are stuck on the same squad, someone’s gotta warm that bench.

Another fan jumped in with some well-earned praise: “Lexi Rodriguez getting in and making immediate impact is no surprise. I love it when she gets any second on that floor. So good! Her time is coming.” And honestly? They weren’t wrong. Sure, Lexi didn’t start in Omaha’s match against Madison, but the moment she stepped onto that court as a sub? She wasted no time making her presence felt. In just one rally, she pulled off a jaw-dropping four digs, keeping the play alive and ultimately securing the point for her team. That’s the kind of hustle you just can’t teach.

So, of course, fans couldn’t contain their excitement: “She’s so good and fun to watch, more playing time PLEEEASEEE!” And yeah, that’s the million-dollar question right now. Will Lexi finally get more minutes, or will she keep riding the bench, just waiting for her moment? Only time will tell. But hey, what do you think? Should she be getting way more time on the court, or is her current role working just fine? Let us know in the comments!