The Race for the Roses has been flagged off! And as 16 teams battle it out to secure their spot in the top 4, the competition is sure to get tighter, especially as the two mega teams, Nebraska and Dayton, clashed a short while back. It was thrilling to watch how the Huskers took care of Dayton in four sets. No doubt, the 2024 Big Ten winners had been on a roll all season; thus, the Dayton girls could not match up despite having an MVP—Lexie Almodovar.

But, remember when No. 5 seed Dayton crushed South Carolina recently? Well, that was a special match. It ensured they advanced to the NCAA regions for the first time, while Lexie Almodovar touched the ranks of greatness. The Atlantic 10 Player of the Year recorded 34 kills to make more history for the side. Well, it only seems fitting as Almodovar comes from a family deeply rooted in sports! And it’s about time the legacy starts showing on court!

Lexi Almodovar’s grandfather was a basketball legend

Lexi Almodovar is the granddaughter of 1965 Indianapolis Washington graduate Billy Keller, who went on to become a basketball legend. Keller’s rise to the top of the sports world started when he went to Purdue and aced seven years of the sport with the ABA-era Pacers, helping them to three championship rings.

In fact, Billy Keller became Purdue’s best three-point shooter! No wonder he scored more than 1,000 points at Purdue! Moving forward in his career, Billy Keller also won a state championship as a senior with the Continentals. And after he wrapped up his time on the court, he went on to coach the University of Indianapolis men between 1980-87, followed by the girls in basketball at Brebeuf Jesuit.

It’s easy to see where Lexie Almodovar gets her athletic skills from. Moreover, not just Billy, Almodovar comes from a family of great sportspersons. Lexie’s mother, Jill Almodovar, was a basketball state champion with the Millers and was part of 3 sectional-champion volleyball teams in 1986, 1988, and 1989. Her father, Norman Almodovar, was a 10-time member of the Puerto Rican volleyball team. And now, her brother, Luke Almodovar, is on the path to becoming a basketball pro!

Lexie’s brother, Luke Almodovar, is a basketball star

Lexie Almodovar is nailing her volleyball season. She recently got named the All-Time Kills leader in program history with an 18-kill performance, which is a great feat to achieve. On the other hand, Lexie’s brother Luke Almodovar is making his mark as a basketball player too. In 2023, the 6’3 star committed to the University of Saint Francis and has been improving incredibly under Coach Scott McClelland.

Also, Luke agrees with his grandfather Billy’s role in his career: “Growing up, any time he could, he would try to get the ball in my hands and work with me. I didn’t realize it then, but it really helped me out a lot learning from him. He’s a great teacher and great coach.” In fact, Billy Keller would watch his matches from livestreams in Florida and give him a call after every game.

Apart from the athletic roots, when it comes to Lexie Almodovar and Luke’s bond as siblings, the two are joined at the hip. In June 2023, when Luke was making his All-Stars debut, his sister inspired him greatly. So much that he said, “I hope my (All-Star) jersey can be hung next to my sister’s jersey (at NHS).” 

Lexie even inspired his younger brother Luke to get a college scholarship. He said, “If I see my big sister going to get a full-ride scholarship, then I’m going to get the same thing. She was inspiring with the way she went about her high school career. I felt like I took some of that in and used that to my advantage.” Whereas Lexie thought, “I was just trying to set a good example for him and just show him the ropes.” What do you think of this sibling duo? Let us know below!