April Ross

April Ross was one of the few female beach volleyball athletes who earned medals in more than one Olympics. Alix Klineman is a new Olympian and will join her in Tokyo. Ross is also hoping to win her very first Olympic gold. It could be the last opportunity she gets at age 39. Her confidence is high but she is not sure. Ross said on NBC Boston: "If we perform our best and If we play our best I'm sure we'll be able to win gold." That's why I'm taking a little bit of luck too. Ross was born August 22, 1982, at Costa Mesa California. She resided in the area together with her parents. She went on to compete in a myriad of sports during her time at Newport Harbor High School. As a pre-schooler, she competed in basketball, indoor volleyball and running track. But she stood out during this game. In her own biography her high school days, she played volleyball as an outside setter (middle blocker) and the setter (outside blocker). Gatorade Circle of Champions named her the national Player of 1999. She also captured the 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Award for volleyball. Although Ross and Klineman are in the spotlight from 2017 onward, the former was already an established athlete on the beach prior to their team. The fact is, she's won multiple big tournaments and one of them was a renowned volleyball player. In the period 2007-2013 she played together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently was Klineman's coach. Kessy was Ross's teammate at the World Championships of 2009. They were awarded a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. They were defeated for the gold medal by the legendary team comprised of Misty May-Treanor as well as Kerri Walsh (Jennings). It was fate that had them. Ross turned out to be Walsh Jennings' new partner when May-Treanor retired. The pair went on to earn the bronze medal in beach volleyball during the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross played for the Trojans of USC during her college days, the years prior to her professional career. The time she spent at USC was one to remember. In 2000 she was voted Pac-10 Freshman as well as NCAA Freshman Of The Year and an All-American. The Trojans were also able to make it to the Final Four. She endured a great personal loss during her sophomore year, yet was capable of achieving the All-American distinction. In her last two seasons in the Trojans' program, she led them to victories by winning successive national titles. She was a great volleyball player, winning the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the top female college volleyball player. Ross was a student at USC in International Relations. Margie Ross was never able to watch her daughter's climb to fame as a beach volleyball player. Ross's mom died from cancer of the breast in the year 2001. Ross had just become a second-year student at USC. Her mother is still close to her heart. Margie is a constant source of inspiration for her both at and off the beaches.