April Ross

April Ross was one of the few female beach volleyball stars who won medals during more than one Olympics. In Tokyo over the next several days, she'll be aiming to net her third medal along with first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. But more than that, Ross is aiming to capture her very first Olympic gold. It could be the last opportunity she gets at age 39. However, she is convinced of winning top awards. Ross was quoted on NBC Boston as saying that If you put in your highest, and even do well, we'll get the gold. Also, it's a matter of chance. Ross was born in 1982 in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and sister. While at Newport Harbor High School, she played in a variety of activities. Her prep athletic career included indoor volleyball as well as basketball as well as running and track. She was definitely the best at the sport of indoor volleyball. In her time at high school, she was a middle blocker outside setter and hitter in the court for volleyball per her college bio. Gatorade Circle Of Champions named her the national Player in 1999. Her volleyball skills also brought her the Orange County Athlete of the Years trophy in 2000. Ross and Klineman formed the partnership in 2017, However, Ross had been a beach-scene player for years prior to. In actual, Ross has won several significant tournaments during her time along with her two teammates. One of them is a legend. Between 2007 and 2013 she played by Jennifer Kessy, who is now her coach. Along together with Kessy Ross, she won the World Championship in 2009 while competing internationally. The 2012 Olympic Games, they received the gold medal. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the group to beat out for gold. Ross Jennings was May-Treanor's replacement when she retired. Together, they took home bronze in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics in the year 2016. Following high school, and for a few many years before hitting the beach as a professional Ross was a ball with the Trojans of USC as an NCAA. And her run at USC was an impressive one. She was an All-American and Pac-10 freshman of the year in the year 2000, a young freshman. The Trojans also reached the Final Four. During her sophomore year she was devastated by a personal setback but managed to make it back as an All-American. The last two years in the Trojans' program the team was led to success by winning two consecutive national championships. She was a great volleyball player, winning the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the best female college volleyball player. Ross was a major in International Relations at USC. Unfortunately, Ross mom Margie was not able to witness her daughter ascend to the top levels of beach volleyball stardom. In 2001 when Ross was a sophomore at USC her mother died of breast cancer. She continues to cherish her mother who died. Margie is a beach lover as well as in everyday life, inspires her.