April Ross

April Ross is one of the few female beach volleyball players to win medals at many Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo to compete for her third Olympic medal alongside Alix Klineman, a first-time Olympian. Ross also hopes to get her first Olympic gold. Since she's 39 years old, it may be her final chance. But she's confident top awards can be achieved. Ross stated to NBC Boston that if they play their best, or even a good game, she believes the team will be able to win the gold medal. So I'm going to take the chance also. Ross was born in 1982 in Costa Mesa California where she resided with her parents and her sister. Ross competed in many sports while attending Newport Harbor High School. In her time as a college athlete she played indoor volleyball and track. She clearly was the top player in indoor volleyball. Based on her biography, she was an outside blocker as well as a middle hitter on the volleyball court throughout her time in high school. She was awarded by the Gatorade National Circle of Champions player of the year in 1999 for her achievements. She also captured the 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Award for volleyball. Ross and Klineman started their partnership in 2017, however, Ross had been a beach-scene player for years prior to. The fact is, she's won multiple big tournaments as well as one of her partners was a renowned volleyball player. From 2007 to 2013 she was in a partnership with Jennifer Kessy, who is now her coach. Kessy's teammate Ross, who was the winner of the world championship together with Kessy in 2009, also was an important player on the world stage. They eventually won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. They were beaten out for the gold by the legendary duo of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor when she retired. Together, they won bronze medals in beach volleyball for the Rio Olympics of the year 2016. After high school and several years prior to hitting the sand as a pro Ross was a ball for the USC Trojans as an NCAA. Ross's playing time with the Trojans was impressive. She was an All-American as well as Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in the year 2000, a young freshman. She also helped the Trojans reach the Final Four. The Trojans suffered a significant personal loss during her sophomore year, yet was capable of achieving the All-American distinction. Over the course of her final two seasons, she took the Trojans up the mountain and clinched consecutive national championships. The individual accomplishments of her have established her place as a legendary volleyball player. She was awarded the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the best female college player. Ross took a course in International Relations at USC. Sadly, Ross mom Margie never got to see Ross rise to the highest levels of beach volleyball fame. When Ross was a sophomore studying at USC her mother passed away due to breast cancer. Ross is still awed by her mother who died. Margie is a beach lover as well as in everyday life, inspires her.