Ignoring Northwestern Volleyball’s Telephone Name, Lexi Rodriguez’s Future Teammate Breaks Digs File Forward of Nebraska’s 2025 Season

On November 7, Lexi Rodriguez made a critical transfer up the Nebraska volleyball report books, climbing to second place on the all-time digs record with 1,720 digs. The one particular person forward of her? Justine Wong-Orantes, the Olympian herself, with 1,890 digs. So, Rodriguez is simply 171 digs away from claiming the highest spot. Not dangerous, proper? Alongside the best way, she’s already knocked a number of massive names down a notch, including her recruiter, Kayla Banwarth, who occurs to sit down on that record of legends.

It’s wild to suppose that simply 4 years in the past, Banwarth handed the baton to Rodriguez when she recruited her for the Huskers. And now, Rodriguez is at that bittersweet second the place she’ll quickly need to cross the baton herself, as this season can be her final with this system. However don’t fear, Huskers followers–they’re not precisely left within the lurch. Phrase is that they’ve already received a brand new recruit lined up, and from the seems of it, she’s already on fireplace.

Lexi Rodriguez finds a ‘fearless’ performer in her successor 

On November 7, Lincoln Lutheran volleyball hit a serious milestone as senior libero Keri Leimbach reached 2,000 profession digs. She hit that milestone with a strong 20 digs in a sweep in opposition to Hastings St. Cecilia. However that’s not all! Leimbach can also be eyeing the Class C-2 event title, proving she’s a key participant for the Warriors. And right here’s the twist: She’s already dedicated to the Nebraska Huskers for 2025. And what place is she aiming for? The identical one was held by the legendary Lexi Rodriguez, defensive specialist/libero. So what makes Keri the following Lexi? Effectively, her teammates have some perception.

Tattooed with “Fearless, Belief, No. 4” on her wrist in everlasting marker, Leimbach is the last word staff participant. Her teammate Ava Jurevicius, explains it finest: “She doesn’t let anybody else tackle what she’s feeling or let anybody tackle any strain. She takes the entire warmth for herself and that’s what makes her an excellent chief.” Feels like a future Husker chief within the making, proper?

On a podcast, the veteran athlete stated, “When it comes to her [Lexi Rodriguez] poise and her management, I do know the women love her as a frontrunner and the best way she communicates. She instructions the courtroom. She really is the quarterback again there. To see her blossom into that position has been actually neat.” Lexi Rodriguez’s grown into that position superbly, however Keri is about to step into her personal model of it. Whereas Rodriguez had her particular signing second with the Huskers 4 years in the past, Keri’s dedication is making its personal distinctive mark on the way forward for Nebraska volleyball.

A diehard Nebraska Huskers fan, she ignored calls from different faculties

In 2023, Keri Leimbach stood because the thirty sixth recruit within the nation. She had a number of choices. Then again, John Prepare dinner, the top coach of the Nebraska Huskers, stored this system’s door open for the instate abilities. The squad had already signed up Natalie Wardlow as the center blocker. Nonetheless, Keri suited the eligibility. How? Born and raised in Nebraska, the participant had performed for the Nebraska ONE Synergy staff. So her inclination was there for the Massive Purple. In the meantime, she pulled off a courageous act. 

Leimbach’s dedication to Nebraska was an enormous second, particularly after fielding gives from faculties like Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Ohio, and Creighton. However when it got here all the way down to it, she knew precisely the place she belonged. “I principally referred to as them and instructed them I used to be going to go to my dream college,” Keri stated, reflecting on the second that sealed her future with the Huskers.

She later made it official with a celebratory Instagram publish: “I’m so, so excited to announce that I’ve dedicated to play volleyball on the College of Nebraska.” Now, simply months away from becoming a member of her dream staff, she’s gearing up for her subsequent massive chapter—however don’t be stunned if she feels the absence of Lexi Rodriguez within the camp subsequent 12 months. There’s a variety of management to fill, but when anybody can step into these footwear, it’s Keri Leimbach!