Just days ago, Lexi Rodriguez and her Nebraska Huskers etched their names into volleyball history with a spectacular victory over Wisconsin. Why all the hype? Well, not only did they clinch the win, but they also shattered an 11-year drought by handing Wisconsin its first home defeat, and they did it in style—a straight-set sweep of 25-21, 25-22, 25-19. If that wasn’t enough, the Huskers marched on to dominate Northwestern in yet another sweep, 25-18, 25-15, 25-15, marking their 19th straight conference win.

Adding to the thrill, libero Lexi Rodriguez delivered a remarkable performance with 7 digs. But here’s what made it even more memorable—during this match, Rodriguez tied for second place in Nebraska’s program history for career digs, joining the ranks of the legendary Kayla Banwarth with 1,706 digs. As for the top spot? It still belongs to Olympian Justine Wong-Orantes at 1,890 digs. But now, it’s time for Lexi to aim for a record-breaking milestone!

Now, the No. 2 Huskers are ready to head west, poised to face off against No. 12 Oregon at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene on November 7. And then there’s their star libero, Lexi Rodriguez. She has her eyes set on the goal to surpass the record set by Kayla Banwarth of 1,706 digs, thus putting her in the hall of fame as one of the greatest liberos in Huskers’ history. Should she further outpace Banwarth, only the record set by Justine Wong-Orantes, one of the best setters in the NCAA, remains a target for the Huskers’ libero.

Rodriguez already has 1,706 digs, and she sits right on the heels of what Banwarth put up in her four years at Nebraska, but their camaraderie extends beyond statistics on a page. Banwarth is the one who singularly identified Rodriguez when signing for the Nebraska team when Rodriguez was an undergrad student at Nebraska and Banwarth, serving as an assistant trainer, felt she could change the team’s fortune.

Rodriguez was the first player Banwarth signed to Nebraska before high school. At the beginning of Dream Team camp in Nebraska, Banwarth and the team’s head coach, John Cook, proposed Rodriguez join in, so she could be exposed to the camp, and to the role she could be able to play within the team. Since rules then permitted such pitches, they invited Rodriguez and laid before him a vision of his future now unfolding in record-making ways.

“I love her, and she’s honestly the reason I’m here,” said Rodriguez for Banwarth. When NU coaches advised her to take time to decide, Rodriguez didn’t make it to the elevator before turning back to pledge her commitment. Banwarth had already seen something special, recalling Rodriguez’s early court command and sharp reads.

Rodriguez’s signature dives and relentless plays are now daily trademarks and while Coach Cook admires her consistency, he’s always pushing for more. “I always think she can dig more,” he said, reflecting on NU’s top defenders—each with unique strengths: Banwarth’s athleticism, Wong-Orantes’s instinctive game sense, and Rodriguez’s elite passing turned into exceptional serves. But this season, she’s not just making history but adding her name to more standout lists!

Lexi Rodriguez makes it to another list!

You got it! Just last month, the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) put out its latest watch list for the 2024 Division I Player of the Year, and guess who made a serious splash? The Nebraska Huskers! Not only did they make the list, but they have more players on it than any other school. Stars like Merritt Beason, Andi Jackson, Harper Murray, Bergen Reilly, and Lexi Rodriguez all snagged spots. Rodriguez, a four-year starter and three-year captain, is building a legacy that’s hard to beat.

Lexi Rodriguez even picked up her sixth Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award on September 30, holding off UCLA and USC with an average of 4.71 digs per set, making her a brick wall on the court. But Lexi’s been making waves long before this. When she was first recruited by former Husker legend Kayla Banwarth, she took home both the AVCA National Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year titles.

So, no wonder Lexi Rodriguez’s been out here showing everyone why she’s one of the best, ever since her breakout in the freshman season in 2021. Now, she’s closing in on Banwarth’s own digs record—a huge milestone that’ll only add to her already stacked resume. So, from her early days as a Husker hopeful to dominating the AVCA watch list and smashing records, Lexi Rodriguez has proven she’s got what it takes to be a Husker legend!