Former Husker libero Lexi Rodriguez selected to U.S. team for Volleyball Nations League
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Former Nebraska All-American Lexi Rodriguez was selected to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster on Monday.
Rodriguez is one of 14 players selected to compete in Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League, with the first match scheduled for Wednesday.
The former Husker is making her VNL debut, though she competed for the senior national team at the 2024 Pan American Cup.
The VNL brings together the world’s top 18 teams for three weeks of competition, with each team playing four matches per week.
Only the top eight teams will earn a spot in the finals with a chance to compete for the title.
The U.S. went 1-3 in the first week of competition and currently sits in 13th place.
The U.S. women are the reigning Olympic silver medalists and rank No. 3 in the world.
They have won the VNL three times (2018, 2019 and 2021) since its inception in 2018.
In 2024, they lost in the quarterfinals to eventual Olympic champion Italy.
The full Week 2 roster is as follows:
- 6 Morgan Hentz – Kentucky
- 7 Lexi Rodriguez – Nebraska
- 8 Brionne Butler – Texas
- 9 Madison Skinner – Texas
- 13 Amber Igiede – Hawaii
- 16 Dana Rettke – Wisconsin
- 21 Roni Jones-Perry – BYU
- 22 Sarah Franklin – Wisconsin
- 24 Olivia Babcock – Pittsburgh
- 27 Ella Powell – Washington
- 28 Logan Lednicky – Texas A&M
- 29 Molly McCage – Texas
- 32 Saige Ka’aha’aina-Torres – Texas
- 33 Logan Eggleston – Texas
- Reserve: 15 Rachel Fairbanks – Pittsburgh
The Week 2 schedule for Team USA is as follows:
- Wednesday at 1 p.m. vs. Serbia
- Thursday at 9:30 a.m. vs. Poland
- Saturday at 9:30 a.m. vs. Netherlands
- June 22 at 9:30 a.m. vs. France
Week 1 results from Rio de Janeiro:
- June 4: Italy def. USA 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 30-28)
- June 5: Brazil def. USA 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19)
- June 6: Czech Republic def. USA 3-2 (23-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 27-25)
- June 8: USA def. Korea 3-0 (25-13, 28-26, 25-17)
