April Ross

April Ross is one of the few female beach volleyball players to win medals at many Olympics. Alix Klineman is a new Olympian and is set to join her at Tokyo. Ross wants to achieve more than her first Olympic medal. As she is 39 she could have her final chance. But she's convinced that top honors are firmly at hand. Ross was quoted in NBC Boston as saying that If you put in your top, even if you do well, we'll get the gold. Then I will also take the chance to have chance. Ross was born in Costa Mesa, California in 1982. Her parents as well as her sister were residents there. Ross was a competitive athlete in a variety of sports while attending Newport Harbor High School. In her time as a college athlete she played indoor volleyball and track. But she clearly was an edge over the other players when it came to the second sport. When she played in her time at the high school level, according to her college bio, she was a middle-blocker, outside-hitter and setter. Thanks to her hard work she was awarded in 1999 as the Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. She also captured the 1999 Orange County Athlete of the year award for volleyball. Ross has been working with Klineman from 2017. However, Ross's beach game was established well before this. It's true that she has been able to win multiple tournaments, including one with a legendary volleyball player. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 until 2013. Ross, Kessy's fellow teammate who won the world title together with Kessy in 2009, also was significant on the international stage. In 2012, the pair took silver in London's Olympic Games. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings, the legend team who won the 2012 Olympic Games in London, edged their opponents to claim the gold medal. It was fate that had them. Ross was Walsh Jennings' new partner when May-Treanor retired. Both went on to win the bronze medal in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics 2016. They were joined by Walsh Jennings. Ross competed for USC Trojans in her college the years prior to her professional career. Her experience at USC was quite impressive. In 2000, as a freshman she earned Pac-10 and NCAA The Freshman of the Year awards and was also an All-American. The Trojans had the chance to get to the Final Four with her help. The Trojans were devastated by a personal tragedy during her second year, but she was able to make it an All-American once more. The two years following her she led the Trojans up to the summit and won consecutive national titles. The achievements of each individual have established her as a volleyball legend. She won the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the top female NCAA player. Ross played international relations as a major at USC. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, was never given the chance to watch her daughter grow into the beach volleyball's biggest star. Ross suffered the loss of her mother to breast cancer in the year 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. Ross holds her mother close to her heart. Margie is a beach lover as well as in her everyday life, is still a source of inspiration for her.