April Ross

April Ross was one of only a few women beach volleyball players who have won medals during more than one Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo for her 3rd Olympic gold medal along with Alix Klineman who is a first-time Olympian. Ross also hopes to get her first Olympic gold. This may be the last chance she'll ever have at age 39. Nevertheless she is confident that the top awards are in reach. Ross stated via NBC Boston: "If we do our best and even playing well I'm sure we'll be able to win gold." "I'm also going to try some luck." Ross was born in California, Costa Mesa in 1982. Her parents and sister were residents in the area. Ross played in numerous sports while attending Newport Harbor High School. She competed in basketball and track in addition to her volleyball skills in the indoors in her time as a college athlete. She stood out however at this level. In her time at high school, she was a middle blocker outside setter and hitter in the court for volleyball as per her bio at the college. Thanks to her hard work she was awarded an 1999 Gatorade Champion of Champions Circle of Champions Player of the Year. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month was also received by her in volleyball. Ross and Klineman are doing what they do since the year 2017. The reality is that Ross was a major player in the world of beach volleyball prior to the pair. She has won major competitions with different players. One of them is an iconic player in the volleyball world. From 2007 to 2013, she was partnered with Jennifer Kessy, who is now her coach. Together with Kessy Ross, she won the World Championship in 2009 while competing on the international circuit. They took home a Silver medal during the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Misty Maytreanor's legendary team as well as Kerri Jennings were the winners of gold. Ross was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's retirement. Together, they won beach volleyball bronze for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross was a Trojans player for the USC during her college days, prior to becoming a professional. Ross's playing time with the Trojans was impressive. In 2000 she was voted Pac-10 Freshman and NCAA Freshman Of The Year, and was also an All-American. She also helped her Trojans to make it to the Final Four. The second season of her career, she experienced a terrible personal tragedy, but managed to earn the honor of being named an All-American. In her last two seasons in the Trojans team the team was led to success by winning two successive national titles. She was a great volleyball player and won the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the best female volleyball player at the college level. Ross majored in International Relations at USC. Margie Ross was not able to witness Ross achieve beach volleyball's top stage. Ross's mother passed away from breast cancer when she was in her sophomore year at USC. But she still keeps her parents close to her heart. Margie at the beach as well as in her everyday life, inspires her.