First Husker Volleyball Player to Receive Prestigious Honor; Third Volleyball Player in History

NEW YORK, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lexi Rodriguez, the electrifying libero for Nebraska Volleyball and one of the brightest stars in collegiate athletics, has officially been named the 95th recipient of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, honoring the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. With this historic win, Rodriguez became the first Husker volleyball player ever to receive the award, and just the third volleyball player in history to earn the prestigious honor.

The Sullivan Award, often referred to as the “Oscar of Amateur Sports,” has been awarded since 1930 to athletes who not only demonstrate elite athletic ability but also exhibit outstanding character, leadership, and sportsmanship. Past recipients include legends such as Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Peyton Manning—names that define excellence in sport. Now, Lexi Rodriguez joins this elite group, further cementing her legacy as a generational talent and role model.

In addition to the Sullivan Award, Rodriguez was recently named a LOVB Icon, one of the highest honors in professional volleyball. What makes the LOVB Icon selection truly meaningful is its unique voting system: 50% fan vote, 25% athlete vote, and 25% coaches vote—a comprehensive blend of public admiration, peer respect, and professional recognition. And Lexi? She shined in every category.

“Lexi is the kind of athlete who redefines what it means to lead with heart, grit, and humility,” said Christina Brennan, Lexi‘s manager. “Her accolades are well-earned, but what makes her special is how she uplifts everyone around her—whether that‘s teammates, fans, or young girls who see themselves in her. We couldn‘t be more proud of everything she‘s accomplished and what‘s still to come.”

Rodriguez is represented by Christina Brennan and Evan Morgenstein, powerhouse sports agents and the driving force behind The Digital Renegades, a premier talent and brand development agency. The agency is known for its work with elite athletes and digital creators who are making meaningful impacts both in their sport and in the community. Lexi exemplifies that mission perfectly.

With a legacy that‘s already transcending college athletics, Lexi continues to dominate on the court while using her platform to empower the next generation. As she adds the AAU Sullivan Award and LOVB Icon status to her growing list of achievements, one thing is clear: Lexi Rodriguez isn‘t just making history—she‘s shaping the future of the sport.

MIAMI – The academic accolades for FIU Athletics continued on Tuesday as eight Panthers’ programs registered perfect yearly APR scores and four had perfect four-year marks, as released in the NCAA’s annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) Report.
 
FIU’s eight programs with perfect single-year APR scores of 1,000 from the 2023-24 academic year:

• Women’s Basketball
• Men’s Cross Country
• Women’s Cross Country
• Softball
• Soccer
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis
• Volleyball

 
FIU’s four programs with perfect four-year APR scores of 1,000 from the 2020-24 academic years:

• Men’s Cross Country
• Women’s Cross Country
• Swimming & Diving
• Tennis

Furthermore, tennis – the reigning three-time Conference USA Champions – has now posted a perfect APR score for five-straight years.
 
The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team’s academic performance.
 

FIU had all 16 of its teams (for the purpose of the APR report, women’s indoor and outdoor track & field is combined into one team) post well above the NCAA-required multi-year score of 930, and 10 were at 985 or higher.
 
Each academic year, every Division-I team across the country calculates its APR using a simple and consistent formula. Each term, scholarship student-athletes can earn one (1) point for remaining eligible and one (1) point for staying in school or graduating.
 
The Academic Performance Program has established an essential framework for academic excellence. The program provides measurable goals to ensure schools are fulfilling their commitment of equipping student-athletes with the tools and resources necessary to achieve academic success.
 
Below are FIU’s multi-year and 2023-24 APR scores by sport:
 

 
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Kansas City Women’s Tennis led the charge for the Roos, posting an APR of 1,000. Three other programs posted multi-year scores above the 980 threshold: women’s soccer at 986, women’s cross country at 986 and volleyball at 984.

Established in 2003, the APR system provides a metric for institutions to measure the progress of student-athletes, accounting for eligibility and retention through each academic term. It is a composite team measurement based upon individual academic success with a 1,000 point score representing the maximum.

As a Carnegie R1 institution, academic success is a point of pride at Kansas City Athletics and within the UMKC community, ensuring a promising future for student-athletes even after their time on the court, field or track comes to a close.

BVB5/6/2025 9:00 AM | By: Cal Athletics

Complex Will Allow For Continued Compliance Of Title IX

BERKELEY – The University of California has begun construction of the Banatao Family Beach Volleyball Stadium, located west of Edwards Stadium at the corner of Bancroft Street and Fulton Way.

“We are thrilled about the construction of our new state-of-the-art beach volleyball facility,” Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said. “It will allow our program to compete against the best and provide our student-athletes with the resources they need to have the world-class student-athlete experience that Cal offers. I’m looking forward to watching it come to life.”

The renovation is expected to take 16-18 months to complete. Cal’s beach volleyball team has been playing and practicing at the Clark Kerr Sand Courts, which will remain for recreational use. The new facility will be managed by Cal Athletics and be used for other recreational activities as well.

Key features of the facility include:

• Five sand volleyball courts designed for NCAA competition
• A building with team rooms, locker rooms, restrooms, coaches’ offices and storage
• Enhanced amenities such as lighting, a scoreboard, public address system and an area for spectators

“We are thrilled to break ground on our new facility,” Cal head coach Meagan Owusu said. “This project will positively impact every piece of our program, from student-athlete experience to recruiting to training. Our program is grateful to Jim Knowlton, (Chancellor) Rich Lyons and the rest of the campus and athletic department for supporting this project.” 

Cal’s beach volleyball program is one of the most successful in the nation, having reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons and finished the year in the national rankings for eight consecutive seasons.

The renovation project is being partially funded by Cal’s successful Gender Equity Campaign that raised $8 million. The campaign was launched to support the university’s commitment to and compliance with Title IX — the landmark federal law enacted in 1972 that prohibits sex discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving any type of federal financial aid.

“We are immeasurably grateful for the support of our Cal Family – including the campaign committee, donors and the Banatao family – that understands the significance of gender equity and helped make this project possible,” Cal Chief Development Officer Beth Tafolla-Voetsch said. “I can’t wait to see our student-athletes compete at what will be one of the premier facilities in the country.”

To learn more or to make a gift, please contact the Cal Athletics Fund at calathleticsfund@berkeley.edu or 510-642-2427.