Rodriguez Wins AAU James E. Sullivan Award

Former Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez made history Tuesday night, becoming the first Nebraska volleyball student-athlete to win the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, presented annually to the most exceptional athlete at the collegiate, Olympic, or other similarly elite level in the United States.

 

Rodriguez was announced as the winner of the 95th AAU Sullivan Award at the New York Athletic Club. The other finalists were Trey Augustine (Ice Hockey, Michigan State), Cooper Flagg (Basketball, Duke), Ashton Jeanty (Football, Boise State), Lee Kiefer (Fencing, USA) and Ilia Malinin (Figure Skating, USA). 

 

As well as honoring athletic excellence, the AAU Sullivan award also recognizes the chosen athlete’s character and honors their quality of leadership, citizenship and sportsmanship.

 

A native of Sterling, Ill., Rodriguez joins a renowned list of recipients. Last year, Caitlin Clark became the first two-time winner of the award. Other prior winners include Michael Phelps, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michelle Kwan, Peyton Manning, Simone Biles, Carl Lewis and Carissa Moore. Rodriguez is just the third volleyball player to earn the award, joining Lauren Carlini (2016) and Kathryn Plummer (2018). 

 

Rulon Gardner (2000) is the only other University of Nebraska student-athlete to receive the award. Four other Nebraska volleyball players had previously been finalists for the honor: Kelsey Robinson (2014-15), Mikaela Foecke (2016-17 and 2018-19), Kelly Hunter (2017-18) and Annika Albrecht (2017-18). 

 

Rodriguez finished her Husker career in December as a four-time AVCA All-American, a four-time All-Big Ten selection, and a three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. She was an AVCA National Player of the Year finalist and a Honda Sport Award for Volleyball finalist in 2024, and she became the first-ever libero to be named AVCA Region Player of the Year.

 

Rodriguez is Nebraska's all-time career leader in digs with 1,897. She is also a three-time Academic All-American, including two first-team accolades. Rodriguez completed her first professional season over the weekend with LOVB Omaha, as they finished as runner-up in the inaugural season of League One Volleyball.