The Cougars signed transfer redshirt junior libero Kambree Rodriguez, the team announced yesterday. She is another option at the position for WSU after the Cougs lost former libero Tinons Munar Galmés, an All-West Coast Conference Honorable Mention in 2025.
Rodriguez comes from Florida International University, where she played the past two seasons. She recorded 111 digs, the fifth-most on the team, and 1.48 per set in 75 sets played for the Panthers in 2025 and redshirted her 2024 season after not seeing any action.
She played at Utah State her freshman season in 2023 and tallied 332 digs, 117 assists and 20 service aces in 104 sets. She had 21 matches with at least 10 digs and her 332 digs led the team. She was a Mountain West All-Conference Honorable Mention and helped lead her team to the first round of the NCAA Tournament that season.
Rodriguez joins a Cougar libero room consisting of sophomore Maddy Joswick and senior Chloe Heimlicher. All of them have a chance of being the Cougs’ go-to option, considering they recorded similar statistics last season.
Joswick, who usually served as head coach Korey Schroeder’s second option, logged 131 digs and 1.34 per set in 98 sets. At Idaho State last season, Heimlicher recorded 167 digs and 1.80 per set in 93 sets.
One thing that benefits Heimlicher and Rodriguez is that they both have more postseason experience. Heimlicher played in the Big Sky, which hosts a conference tournament every season. Although the Bengals never won the conference tournament, they made the finals last season, and Heimlicher played in it all three years she was there.
In addition to making the NCAA Tournament in 2023, Rodriguez played in the Conference USA conference tournament this past season, where the Panthers made the finals.
However, Joswick is the only returner and played well when she was on the court last season. She has already proven to Schroeder that she can fit into his system.
Regardless of their past play, all of them will have a chance to prove themselves when the team starts practicing collectively again July 31.
Unless the team announces another transfer, Rodriguez is likely the last one the Cougs signed this offseason, given the portal closed May 15.
