By pxlz
On the volleyball court, Lexi Rodriguez plays in the libero position — a player who can only be in the back row. Her athletic achievements, however, have always been front and center. At 22, Rodriguez has already gone straight from an All-American collegiate career at the University of Nebraska to the pros, joining the LOVB Omaha club just a week after her final college game. She’s also joined the ranks of Caitlin Clark, Michael Phelps, Carl Lewis and Peyton Manning by being the most recent recipient of the AAU James E. Sullivan Award, given to the “most outstanding” U.S. athletes competing at the Olympic, collegiate or elite level. Not bad for someone who’s still too young to rent a car.
Fast-forward a few months, and Rodriguez is taking a much-needed break after wrapping up her first season with LOVB Omaha, which — no biggie — finished second in the league. And while more great things are almost certainly in store for her volleyball career, I soon found out that Rodriguez is more focused on enjoying the moment than thinking about whatever milestones may come next.
“A big thing for me is just staying present in the moment that I’m in and not trying to dwell on things, or trying to look too far in advance,” she tells me during an interview for Yahoo Life’s OT Diaries. “I don’t want to waste time on that. I just want to be where my feet are.”
In the offseason, that means getting into recovery — not “rotting on a couch” — mode, with the help of family, her dogs and maybe a Vin Diesel movie (or 10). Here’s what Rodriguez tells me about keeping her game sharp (and sneaking in some guilty pleasures).
Having just one week between your college and professional seasons sounds like no time at all. What was your biggest priority during that short break?
My college season ended around Dec. 20, and then my report date for LOVB was Dec. 27. … It was time to kind of clean the slate and start new with a new team and new coaches. So most of my preparation was focused on how I was going to let go of everything in that one week and be able to come into this next chapter with a fresh and open mindset.
I had a week in between to go home and spend some time with my family over the holidays. … My family was really helpful in the transition. My sister just had her firstborn [baby], and he was only a month and a couple of weeks old when I got home. I was really able to spend that time with my sister and my nephew, which helped me to stay present. And then when it was time to go, it was a little difficult, especially just coming from college and having to jump right into another season. But that family time really helped me.
You’ve already wrapped up your first season with LOVB Omaha. What are you most focused on going into this offseason?
For me, it’s more about the physical aspect of things. Making sure that I’m not spending the whole time rotting on a couch, but that I’m doing active recovery. When you’re going from season to season, you’ve got to try and keep your body as strong as possible because there’s injuries and there’s fatigue and all of that.
Rodriguez serving up the ball during her inaugural LOVB season. (Jed Jacobsohn/LOVB)
What does active recovery look like for you?
I love going on walks, whether inside or outside. I have lots of dogs at home, so when I’m [home], I’m taking them on walks and just getting my body moving as much as possible.
Recently, I’ve discovered HotWorx. I love being in the sauna and doing stretches in there or doing an actual workout. But I’ve found that the heat in the sauna really helps my body kind of relax and helps the joints and the muscles.
You’re obviously moving a ton during the season. Do you use a fitness tracker to track your movement goals when you’re not playing?
I have an Oura ring, and I definitely look at my step count there. I’m a pretty active person in general. I don’t like to sit around and not do much, so getting those steps in is easy to do. Even when I’m home I’m like, “We should go shopping, we should go to a coffee shop or go on walks, go play pickleball.” Even if it’s just with my family or friends, I like to be active. I’m also someone who loves to just go and explore.
I don’t really have a goal, but I know how many steps I get when I’m practicing and working out, so just trying to get within that range.
Are there other metrics that you’re paying attention to?
Sleep is something that I always look at, especially if I’m recovering or have time off and can really rest up my body. I like seeing how well I’m sleeping in comparison to when I have back-to-back games or something like that.
I do try to get around eight hours of sleep. But ultimately, I’m focused on the quality of my sleep and just trying to listen to what my body needs. If it’s feeling good, then I can stay in my usual routine, but sometimes [the Oura ring] will tell me that I might be getting sick [or] I’m showing more signs of stress or fatigue, so I try to get more sleep then.
What’s your routine for a good night’s sleep?
I focus on putting my phone down — putting it on the charger, putting it away and just lying in bed until I go to sleep because the more I’m on my phone, the longer I’m awake. I feel that’s a part of my normal routine, but I just do it a bit earlier if I’m needing more sleep than usual.
After a good or bad night’s sleep, are you relying on caffeine to get you through the day?
I probably do like two Starbucks grande [coffees] a day. I’ll have one in the morning and then usually one in the afternoon. If I have a really late game, I would maybe do a little bit more. I like energy drinks too, but I don’t drink those for games.
Are you a stickler when it comes to nutrition?
I am trying to eat a little bit cleaner than I did in college, when you can get away with more of that stuff. But I don’t necessarily have a routine yet. I think I’m kind of in a nutrition journey and trying to figure out what my body needs food-wise when I’m going from season to season, since that’s what my life’s going to look like now. It plays a huge role in recovery and muscle and joint health.
Well, that’s a great lead into a quick rapid-fire round. If you could only eat one food, nutrition aside, what would it be?
I would probably say spaghetti — with meat sauce or meatballs.
What’s your favorite beverage?
Definitely coffee, and it could be anything. Cold brew, an iced latte, a shaken espresso. Any type of coffee.
Go-to wellness treatment?
A sauna. Something about it rejuvenates my body, and I feel less inflamed and so much better afterwards.
Binge-worthy TV show?
That’s a tough one. I would probably say Vampire Diaries.
Movie?
Fast & Furious. I love all of them, but I would just have to go with one.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.