Four months have passed, but the sting still lingers for Lexi Rodriguez and her former Huskers team. Back in December, the Cornhuskers went down in a heartbreaker to Penn State in the NCAA Final Four. The match was an absolute rollercoaster—Penn State pulled off a dramatic reverse sweep to snatch the win, with scores that felt like punches being thrown: 23-25, 18-25, 25-23, 28-26, and a final 15-13. Despite their 33-3 season, Nebraska couldn’t seal the deal. But hey, Lexi Rodriguez, the team’s senior libero, made history in the middle of it all, breaking Nebraska’s career digs record with 1,897 digs. Yet Rodriguez’s legacy isn’t defined just by stats—it’s her heart, her leadership, and the way she lifted this team. Former coach John Cook knows just how much this group of seniors meant.

They’ve set the bar, inspiring not just fans but a whole new generation of volleyball players. They’ve played in multiple Final Fours, and let’s not forget Volleyball Day in Nebraska, where they made history in front of a record-breaking crowd. After the tough loss, Rodriguez reflected with gratitude, calling the Nebraska volleyball program “the best thing that ever happened to me.” Even in defeat, the Huskers gave it their all, with Andi Jackson, Harper Murray, and the rest of the squad delivering highlight-worthy performances. But in the end, Penn State’s Jess Mruzik was a force to be reckoned with, dominating the offense. Still, Nebraska’s journey continues to inspire, and as Lexi Rodriguez received honors post-award, her title miss became just another chapter in the story of an unforgettable team.

On April 27, Lincoln Arneal hopped onto X to spread the love for Lexi Rodriguez, reposting the Nebraska Huskers’ announcement that the star had just snagged another big honor. He shared, “Lexi Rodriguez wins another award as she is named Nebraska’s female athlete of the year.” But hold up, that’s not all, folks!

He kept the good vibes rolling with another tweet, saying, “She’s not done yet. Rodriguez also won the Student-Athlete of the Year award.” Talk about stacking up those accolades! It’s clear—Lexi’s just getting started.

Lexi Rodriguez, in her senior year, wrote her name into the history books, finishing as the school’s all-time career leader in digs with 1,897. She racked up four AVCA All-American honors, becoming just the third Husker ever to do so. She also nailed first-team All-Big Ten all four years—something only a handful of Huskers have ever done. Oh, and she grabbed the Big Ten Libero of the Year for the third time, along with making the All-Big Ten First Team and the AVCA All-Region Team for the fourth year in a row.

But here’s the thing—Lexi didn’t stop there! Not only did she break records, but she also earned accolades like being the first libero to snag the AVCA Region Player of the Year award. She kicked butt on the court, starting all 36 matches at libero and averaging 3.88 digs per set, along with 127 set assists and 17 service aces. And, as if that wasn’t enough, just a few days earlier, she was honored yet again, proving that her legacy in the volleyball world is far from over.

Lexi Rodriguez snags another prestigious award!

Just when you thought Lexi Rodriguez couldn’t add another feather to her already stacked cap, boom—she did! A few days ago, the former Nebraska volleyball libero made history by winning the 95th AAU Sullivan Award, presented at the New York Athletic Club. This isn’t just any award, though—it’s the big one, given to the top athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or similar elite level in the U.S. And guess what? She’s the very first Nebraska volleyball athlete to snag this prestigious honor. To put it in perspective, past winners include legends like Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Peyton Manning—basically the who’s who of athletic greatness.

The competition for the award was no joke, either. Rodriguez faced off against some serious talent, including Trey Augustine (Ice Hockey, Michigan State), Cooper Flagg (Basketball, Duke), and Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating, USA). But Lexi Rodriguez, with her unmatched grit and dedication, stood out. She joins an elite list of volleyball players to ever win the award, following in the footsteps of Lauren Carlini (2016) and Kathryn Plummer (2018). Oh, and she’s not alone in this Nebraska legacy—Rulon Gardner, another Husker, won it back in 2000.

Rodriguez’s volleyball journey speaks for itself. As a four-time AVCA All-American, four-time All-Big Ten, and three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, she left a mark on the court that can’t be erased. She’s Nebraska’s all-time digs leader with 1,897, a two-year captain, and a three-time Academic All-American. Lexi’s volleyball legacy is as solid as they come. Now, she’s playing professionally for LOVB Omaha, where she’s already helping lead the team to a strong finish. You just know Lexi’s not done yet—this chapter is just getting started.