April Ross

April Ross has won more than one medal at the Olympics. Ross is among the few female players of beach volleyball who have achieved this feat. Alix Klineman is the newest Olympian who will be joining her in Tokyo. More than that though Ross hopes to win her very first Olympic gold. As she is 39 and has a long way to go, this could be her last shot. Nevertheless, she remains certain of taking top honors. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we do our best and even if we just play well I believe we can get the gold medal." That's why I'm taking some luck as well. Ross is born in the year 1982. Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents as well as a sister. Ross played in numerous sports while attending Newport Harbor High School. She was a basketball player and also ran track, in addition to her indoor volleyball achievements in her time as a college athlete. She clearly was the top player in indoor volleyball. The college bio says that she played outside of the hitter middle blocker, as well as a setter throughout her volleyball time at high school. She was awarded by the Gatorade National Circle of Champions player of the year in 1999 for her achievements. Also, she won the 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Award for volleyball. Ross and Klineman are doing what they do since 2017. But, Ross was a major player in the world of beach volleyball before the pairing. It's true that she has won numerous events, one of which was with the legendary player of volleyball. Ross teamed up along with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and was also Klineman's coach. Kessy and Ross were an impressive force on the world circuit, winning the 2009 World Championship with each other. They took home a Silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the team to beat out for gold. As fate would have it Ross became Walsh Jennings' new partner when May-Treanor retired. The team won bronze in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics 2016. Ross was a college athlete with the Trojans of USC prior to her pro career. She played during high school, as well as some years before she hit the beaches as a professional. The time she spent at USC was impressive. She was an All-American and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in the year 2000, a young freshman. She was also one of the key players to help the Trojans reach their way to the Final Four. After her sophomore year she suffered a devastating personal loss and still was able to be named an All-American. In her two final years with the Trojans they helped achieve consecutive championships. For her part she established herself as a legend by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. This prize was awarded to the top female college volleyball players across the nation. Ross took a course in International Relations at USC. Unfortunately Ross mother Margie did not get to see her daughter ascend to the highest levels of beach volleyball fame. Ross's mom passed away due to cancer of the breast when she was in her sophomore year at USC. This meant that Ross remains close to her parent who died. Margie, on the beach as well as in her everyday life, continues to inspire her.