“Just a shame,” a fan remarked as Lexi Rodriguez remained sidelined after joining LOVB Omaha. The team already had Olympic champion Justine Wong-Orantes playing as a libero, who has been excelling in her role there. As a result, Rodriguez has had to wait for a long period to get into the team. But her wait was finally over as head coach Suzie Fritz named her in the starting lineup ahead of their game against LOVB Houston.

As the starting lineup was being announced, the focus shifted to Lexi Rodriguez, when it was revealed who the starting libero was. Her name was announced on the speakers to a loud chorus of cheers from fans. Although she excelled in college during her time with the Cornhuskers, playing nearly every game and even breaking the digs record set by Wong-Orantes, her professional career hasn’t kicked off the same way. But now she finally got her well-deserved start, in place of Wong-Orantes, who’s been the mainstay so far.

Although it was a well-deserved and memorable outing for Rodriguez, her team ended up on the losing side, going down against LOVB Houston 3-1. While Houston won the opening two sets, Omaha kept the match alive by winning the third set, but it was all curtains after they lost a close fourth set 25-23 to suffer their ninth loss this season. With this, Omaha continued to remain at the bottom of the table in what was a disappointing end to the evening for Rodriguez in her first professional start of her career.

Nonetheless, it looks like Omaha has paid heed to their fans’ requests by handing Lexi Rodriguez the start. Earlier, due to her limited game time with Justine Wong-Orantes having locked up the libero position, fans were angered to not see their star rookie in action for a majority of the season. But even though her game time has been limited, Lexi Rodriguez was prepared for this outcome and only had praise for Wong-Orantes.

Lexi Rodriguez on Justine Wong-Orantes: ‘Such an amazing libero’

When the former Nebraska star Lexi Rodriguez decided to turn pro and join LOVB Omaha, her teammate and the current libero for the USA Senior National Team, Justine Wong-Orantes, was very excited to have her on the team. With a good mix of talent and experience, Wong-Orantes believed that it would do Omaha a world of good. Meanwhile, Rodriguez was elated to have a senior like Orantes and learn from her.

During an interview, she said, “I think it means everything coming from her. She’s just such an amazing libero and such a sweet person, and she’s someone that I’ve always looked up to ever since I was getting recruited by Nebraska. So to even be in the same conversation with her is just insane to me. She has just been so supportive, and it’s truly meant the world.”

And even after joining the team, Lexi Rodriguez has made it clear just how much she values the chance to learn from Wong-Orantes. Just like even the first day and watching her do simple things and how calm she is and just her technique is top tier. And so I feel like every day getting to watch that over time will just be super helpful for my game,” she said. It’s not every day you have such direct access to the experience of an Olympic gold and silver medalist!

With Lexi Rodriguez’s first start ticked off, the focus is on putting together some wins. Up next, LOVB Omaha will face LOVB Austin, which will be a battle between the two bottom-paced teams in LOVB. Can Rodriguez help change the fortune of her team? Let us know your views in the comments below.