On November 7, Lexi Rodriguez made a serious move up the Nebraska volleyball record books, climbing to second place on the all-time digs list with 1,720 digs. The only person ahead of her? Justine Wong-Orantes, the Olympian herself, with 1,890 digs. So, Rodriguez is just 171 digs away from claiming the top spot. Not bad, right? Along the way, she’s already knocked a few big names down a notch, including her recruiter, Kayla Banwarth, who happens to sit on that list of legends.

It’s wild to think that just four years ago, Banwarth handed the baton to Rodriguez when she recruited her for the Huskers. And now, Rodriguez is at that bittersweet moment where she’ll soon have to pass the baton herself, as this season will be her last with the program. But don’t worry, Huskers fans–they’re not exactly left in the lurch. Word is they’ve already got a new recruit lined up, and from the looks of it, she’s already on fire.

Lexi Rodriguez finds a ‘fearless’ performer in her successor 

On November 7, Lincoln Lutheran volleyball hit a major milestone as senior libero Keri Leimbach reached 2,000 career digs. She hit that milestone with a solid 20 digs in a sweep against Hastings St. Cecilia. But that’s not all! Leimbach is also eyeing the Class C-2 tournament title, proving she’s a key player for the Warriors. And here’s the twist: She’s already committed to the Nebraska Huskers for 2025. And what position is she aiming for? The same one was held by the legendary Lexi Rodriguez, defensive specialist/libero. So what makes Keri the next Lexi? Well, her teammates have some insight.

Tattooed with “Fearless, Trust, No. 4” on her wrist in permanent marker, Leimbach is the ultimate team player. Her teammate Ava Jurevicius, explains it best: “She doesn’t let anyone else take on what she’s feeling or let anyone take on any pressure. She takes all of the heat for herself and that’s what makes her a good leader.” Sounds like a future Husker leader in the making, right?

On a podcast, the veteran athlete said, “In terms of her [Lexi Rodriguez] poise and her leadership, I know the girls love her as a leader and the way she communicates. She commands the court. She truly is the quarterback back there. To see her blossom into that role has been really neat.” Lexi Rodriguez’s grown into that role beautifully, but Keri is about to step into her own version of it. While Rodriguez had her special signing moment with the Huskers four years ago, Keri’s commitment is making its own unique mark on the future of Nebraska volleyball.

A diehard Nebraska Huskers fan, she ignored calls from other colleges

In 2023, Keri Leimbach stood as the 36th recruit in the nation. She had several options. On the other hand, John Cook, the head coach of the Nebraska Huskers, kept the program’s door open for the instate talents. The squad had already signed up Natalie Wardlow as the middle blocker. However, Keri suited the eligibility. How? Born and raised in Nebraska, the player had played for the Nebraska ONE Synergy team. So her inclination was there for the Big Red. Meanwhile, she pulled off a brave act. 

Leimbach’s commitment to Nebraska was a big moment, especially after fielding offers from schools like Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Ohio, and Creighton. But when it came down to it, she knew exactly where she belonged. “I basically called them and told them I was going to go to my dream school,” Keri said, reflecting on the moment that sealed her future with the Huskers.

She later made it official with a celebratory Instagram post: “I am so, so excited to announce that I have committed to play volleyball at the University of Nebraska.” Now, just months away from joining her dream team, she’s gearing up for her next big chapter—but don’t be surprised if she feels the absence of Lexi Rodriguez in the camp next year. There’s a lot of leadership to fill, but if anyone can step into those shoes, it’s Keri Leimbach!