When it comes to the Nebraska Huskers, one thing is clear–they rally for each other through anything and everything, be it a game day or some hard times off the court. Just take Lexi Rodriguez, for example. A few days ago, she took over the volleyball world with a shout out to none other than her former teammate, Kennedi Orr. On February 9, Rodriguez posted a proud moment of herself as a professional player, where she scored her first ace in a 3-2 match against LOVB Salt Lake. But instead of basking in the limelight, she took a bow to the person who helped shape her game.

Right under the highlight clip, she wrote, “@kennediorr taught me everything I know.” And let’s be real, that’s some serious appreciation, especially seeing as she could have credited the Olympic champion Jordan Larson, who coached her at Nebraska. But nope—Orr was the one who got the love. And as it turns out, that same unwavering Huskers’ bond played a major role in Orr’s journey too. John Cook and the Nebraska Husker’s coaching squad never let her feel like she was an outsider to the game, pushing her to stay and fight for her place.

Taking to TikTok, Kennedi Orr didn’t hold back in breaking down exactly why she sat the bench for four years at Nebraska. She committed at just 14, ready to take on the world, but life had other plans. “COVID hit my junior year. I wasn’t playing volleyball for six months, and when I started again, the first day back, I tore my ACL.” Just three months before college, everything changed. “I remember like bawling, crying to my mom because I had to call coach and tell him.”

But instead of disappointment, he had her back. Rehab became her full-time job, and by preseason, she was back on the court. But it wasn’t all the same. “It wasn’t not playing at all. It was more the fact that it just never felt the same as it did before, before I got hurt.” She started seeing a sports psych, trying to reconnect her mind with her body. By the end of her freshman year, she was making progress. Then came sophomore year, and things took another turn.

During beach season, her knee swelled up “so big,” leading to another surgery. And then, the yips hit. “As a setter, the ball was falling through my hands. It wouldn’t go above the antenna, and if it did, it was always a double.” She couldn’t even practice with the team. “I was doing other things like defense, serving, and that was all fine,” but setting? Completely gone. Through it all, her team, coaches, and staff never stopped believing in her, and that’s why she stayed. “I was so defeated. Every day they would come in and tell me that I can do this and support me.”

It was only in junior year that everything began to make sense. Then, before the season, Coach pulled her aside: “We don’t want to run a 6-2 this year… Bergen’s gonna be our setter.” It hurt, but she made the choice, and a tough one. “I was either gonna be an asshole or I was just gonna support Bergen and every single person on my team.” She chose to support. Despite that, she still enjoyed playing and was willing to assist in any way that was possible.

The Husker star was ready to give it up by her senior year, not because she had lost interest in volleyball but because of all that had happened. “I always loved volleyball. I loved practice, but I just went through some health problems at times, and I got hurt, and that sucks.” But no regrets. “I would probably choose to be a four-year bench rider over and over again if I knew how much I would grow.” Her goal was not to play more but to develop as a player, to persevere, and to be part of a team.

The fans of the Nebraska Huskers might have seen their star player spend a lot of time on the bench, but she was definitely not idle. During the senior year, she played in 35 matches and in those matches, she made 63 digs, made 10 aces and two assists. And, of course, let’s not forget the brainpower: she got recognitions to her name: Academic All-District, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Academic All-Big Ten. But here’s the best part? Her teammates never failed to credit her for all that she has done for the team, even when she was not in the limelight.

The Huskers are all in for Orr!

In November, Nebraska Husker went all out to celebrate Orr’s birthday and the young lady was overwhelmed with love. Speaking to the press, Lexi Rodriguez was honest and stated that Kennedi is not only a server and a defender but also a player who works hard every day, helps her teammates and makes them become a better version of themselves. She’s not just a piece of the puzzle; she’s the glue holding it all together.

Some people may have assumed that she is just a setter who enters the court, sets the ball and plays defense, but Rodriguez could not let that happen—Kennedi is more than that. Merritt Beason supported that statement up, expressing how she is the morale booster of the team and the team’s spirit, both on and off the court. She’s that person who keeps things light but is always locked in, making the locker room feel like home.

And when it comes to trust? Kennedi has got that covered too. Beason stressed that there was never a time when she was unable to turn to Kennedi. No matter her role, she arrives with the same passion, the same zeal, each day. She is not only a player, but the soul of the Nebraska Huskers and to everyone on the team who appreciates it.