When life tosses her a tough set, Lexi Rodriguez knows how to rise and spike it right back. Just a few weeks back, Lexi and her LOVB Omaha crew were riding the emotional rollercoaster after falling short in the League One Volleyball championship. It was Austin, powered by former Longhorn legends Logan Eggleston and Madisen Skinner, who walked off with the crown in a clean sweep. The set scores told the story (25-19, 25-22, 25-23), and Skinner?

She was on fire, dropping 17 kills, stacking blocks, racking up digs, and grabbing the MVP crown like it was written in the stars. Omaha gave it heart, but Austin got hot when it mattered most, tearing through the playoffs and finishing the fairytale with gold in hand. But Lexi? She’s not one to stay down for long. Despite that LOVB heartbreak, she’s flipping the script in true comeback fashion, joining Skinner and a stacked squad for a fresh, sparkling chapter with Team USA.

Just a blink ago, Madisen Skinner was slamming down championship points and handing Lexi Rodriguez a slice of heartbreak in the LOVB finals, but now? Looks like fate (and a little USA magic) just hit the reset button. Yup, according to USA Volleyball, both stars have landed on the super-stacked 30-player long-list for the 2025 Volleyball Nations League squad. We’re talking Olympians, VNL vets, rising rookies, and fan-fave names like Jordyn Poulter, Avery Skinner, Dana Rettke, and more. Lexi’s in the mix to be selected as one of the 14 who’ll get to represent the USA at the VNL, while Madisen’s already played at the competition. And now? They might just be rocking the same jersey instead of battling across the net.

That’s the kind of full-circle magic the volleyball gods live for. The VNL’s about to kick off in June, starting with that tropical volleyball paradise, Rio de Janeiro, before sliding over to Belgrade and finally landing in good ol’ Arlington, Texas for the home stretch in July.

Lexi’s battling it out in the libero pit with the likes of Morgan Hentz (yep, that Stanford wall), Zoe Jarvis (who’s made the rounds from UCLA to Texas to USC), and Lauren Briseno (Baylor rep), with Hentz and Jarvis already flexing some past VNL cred. It’s a fierce fight, but if anyone’s used to scrapping for greatness, it’s Lexi. And talk about timing; her VNL dreams come hot off the heels of a mega win: the 2025 AAU James E. Sullivan Award. First. Husker. Ever. Dani Busboom Kelly didn’t hold back his hype, dropping the all-caps praise: “First Husker to ever win this award! Congrats to Lexi!”

Still, while that honor had the glitter, her pro chapter’s been a bit cloudy. LOVB Omaha didn’t exactly go out with a bang, and Lexi’s been searching for that momentum spark again. But head coach Erik Sullivan is feeling the vibes. “They’re bringing great energy, a strong work ethic, and a real commitment to getting better every day,” he said, giving props to both the vets and the rising stars. He’ll be juggling national team duties and coaching LOVB Austin come 2026, but right now? All eyes are on the red, white, and blue. Maybe, just maybe, this VNL shot is the fresh chapter Lexi’s been waiting for, because she indeed is one to look out for!

Lexi Rodriguez, the perfect libero for the tournament?

The Huskers were straight-up fire in 2024, like, seriously, torching the whole NCAA scene with a red-hot 22-1 home record and snatching that Big Ten crown for the 36th time. Yep, thirty-six. Coach John Cook was dreaming big, hoping to wrap it all up with a shiny national title, especially for the seniors ready to ride off into their next chapters. And let’s be real, after a title drought since 2017, Cook was itching to see Lexi Rodriguez and her squad finally soak in that national championship confetti. But fate had other plans, and heartbreak came dressed in Penn State blue and white, crushing Husker hopes in the semifinals.

Still, Lexi didn’t just walk off that court; she walked into Nebraska legacy status with a whopping 1,897 career digs. Then came the pro leap. Lexi was picked up by LOVB Omaha for the shiny new League One Volleyball adventure. Things kicked off with a spark; Omaha looked solid out the gate. But drama? Oh yeah, that showed up real quick. With fellow Nebraska alum and Olympic libero Justine Wong-Orantes also on the roster, Lexi had to fight for every second on that court. Fans weren’t thrilled; socials lit up with folks wondering why she wasn’t getting more play time.

Even so, Lexi held it down when she did step in, racking up 37 digs in 10 games and helping push Omaha all the way to the final. Yeah, they didn’t win, but that first-season ride still said one thing loud and clear: Rodriguez isn’t here to play small. Now the big question, can all that grit, hustle, and untapped fire fuel her shot at wearing red, white, and blue on the VNL stage? Because the Volleyball Nations League isn’t just another tournament, it’s a whole world stage moment.