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New year, new beginnings—easier said than done when your 2024 ended in heartbreak. For Lexi Rodriguez, it wasn’t just any loss—it was the last game of her collegiate career. The Huskers’ star libero had to face the gut-wrenching reality of her senior season ending in a shocking upset by Penn State. In a tournament twist that left fans reeling, the Nittany Lions clawed their way past Nebraska, earning their first national championship berth in a decade. And they didn’t stop there—Penn State went on to claim their eighth NCAA title, toppling Louisville in a thrilling finale. For Lexi, the sting of that loss adds weight to the “new year, new me” mindset. And she didn’t bow out without making waves.

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In her final showdown, she etched her name into history, breaking records with a jaw-dropping 1,897 career digs. While it’s impossible to leave the heartbreak on the court, Lexi is turning it around for 2025. New year, new energy, and new chapter here we come. But she won’t leave us hanging there; no, she’s taking a moment to give us all an update on her life before she goes on to the next big thing!

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Lexi Rodriguez welcomed 2025 with a TikTok from her new apartment kitchen, iced coffee in hand, Lexi spilled the beans (pun intended) about her latest chapter. “Hi guys, happy new year,” she began warmly. “I’m gonna make a coffee and give you guys a life update.” She shared how she’s now fully moved into her new space, had her first practice with LOVB Omaha, and rang in the New Year with her Nebraska friends. “I got to see all my old friends from Nebraska yesterday for New Year’s,” she said, clearly savoring the bittersweet mix of nostalgia and excitement.

But Lexi didn’t shy away from the real talk, admitting that life post-college volleyball is still a work in progress. “After doing something for four years and having that be my routine, it’s just a little difficult to figure out,” she confessed. As she thought aloud about her resolutions, she revealed her game plan for the year: “I really need to think about what I want my New Year’s resolutions to be, but right now, I haven’t really thought about it.” Still, she’s nailed down a few essentials: “Eat healthy, drink a lot of water, take care of mental health.” And her biggest mantra? “Live in the moment, stay in the present, and not think too far ahead or get too caught up in the future.”

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Lexi signed off with a promise: “Stay tuned for more updates. We have our first game next week. Thanks for watching, and I’ll talk to you later.” With her coffee in hand and a heart full of determination, she’s embracing this new chapter one step at a time. Lexi Rodriguez had herself a December to remember, blending a bittersweet farewell to college volleyball with the excitement of what’s next.

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Following an incredible five-year run at Nebraska, the Libero star did not have time to waste and immediately joined League One Volleyball Omaha. The announcement on X was nothing short of a mic-drop moment: “Your queen isn’t going anywhere. Please join us in welcoming @Alexis14Rod to the LOVB Omaha roster. Lexi is the all-time digs leader for @HuskerVB, 4x All-American, 2x Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and 2024 Big Ten Libero of the Year. We’re SO excited, Lexi!” Talk about starting strong, right? Yet, it wasn’t just her next big move that helped Lexi mend her heart—she also found comfort in the festive cheer of the holiday season.

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Lexi Rodriguez’s holiday season!

“Nothing compares to Christmas mornings,” Lexi Rodriguez wrote in the caption of her TikTok video posted on December 26. But this was not just any holiday; it was a sweet moment after the storm of emotions after the last NCAA performance. Now that Lexi’s last season as a Husker has come to a close, she had a very happy Christmas at home, surrounded by her family. She posted a video that made viewers see glimpses of her day, and what could be a more cheerful home than that?

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Everything from the sparkling decorations to the beautiful array of food and, of course, the cute dogs joining in on the holiday cheer made Rodriguez’s house look like something out of a holiday movie. “Even the doodles get presents,” Lexi joked, showing off her pups enjoying their holiday spoils. Her sister Kaylee and her baby nephew Tatum made appearances too, which only made the party all the merrier amongst everyone else. For a few seconds, the face of the volleyball player brought joy back into the viewers’ lives after the storm.

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Although the pain of not sealing that national title may still be fresh, a day full of family, food, and all-out holiday spirit appears to have done the trick. But don’t get too comfortable with seeing her at home—Lexi is already planning her next move. Soon she will be back in Nebraska, wearing the jersey of a different team, and this time she is all set to create her magic on the volleyball court again.

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Written by

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Eva Aggarwal

1,008 Articles

Eva Aggarwal is a senior Olympics Sports writer at EssentiallySports. The track and field athlete herself, Eva brings a unique perspective to her written content when she covers various avenues of athletics and NCAA volleyball. Being a Black-Stripe Taekwondo artist and an ice hockey enthusiast, Eva adds a storytelling aspect to her coverage. When Eva is not indulged in writing her next trending story, she can be found practicing Taekwondo or reading a good fiction novel. To find more about Eva, catch her on:-

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Christaline Meyers

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