April Ross

April Ross was one of only a few women beach volleyball stars who won medals in several Olympics. Alix Klineman is the newest Olympian and will join her at Tokyo. Ross hopes to win more than just her first Olympic medal. At 39, this could be her last opportunity to achieve it. Nevertheless she is confident that top honors are firmly within reach. Ross stated to NBC Boston that if they perform at their very best, or play a great game her team will be able to win the gold medal. "I'm planning to test to have a bit of luck." Ross is born in the year 1982. Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and sister. Ross went on to play in many activities during her time at Newport Harbor High School. As a prep-athlete she played indoor track and volleyball. Although she was a pro when playing indoors, it was clear that her performance was above normal. Based on her bio, she played an outside blocker as well as a middle volleyball player during her senior year at high school. The results of her efforts were acknowledged in 1999 when she was named Gatorade's Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. She also was awarded an Orange County Athlete of the Year award in volleyball. While Ross Klineman and Ross are in the spotlight from 2017 onward, the former was already an established player on the beach scene long before their pairing. As a matter of fact Ross has been a winner of several significant tournaments during her time together with two other partners. One of them is a legend. In the period 2007 until 2013, she was a team alongside Jennifer Kessy who more recently served as her and Klineman's coach. Together with Kessy, Ross won a World Title in 2009, while racing internationally. The pair eventually picked up an Olympic silver medal during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings the legendary team that took home the Olympic gold medal in 2012 in London, edged each other to take home the gold. Ross was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's retirement. In 2016, the duo were awarded bronze medals at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross was a college player at USC Trojans prior to beginning her pro career. She was a player in high school, as well as before hitting the beaches as a professional. And her run in the Trojans' ranks was a memorable one. She was a All-American as well as Pac-10 freshman of the year in 2000 as a young freshman. Additionally, she assisted her Trojans get to the Final Four. During her sophomore year she experienced a devastating personal setback, but she was able to repeat as an All-American. Over the course of her final two seasons, she took the Trojans up the mountain and won consecutive national titles. The achievements of each individual have established her as a volleyball legend. She was awarded the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the nation's best female collegiate player. Ross was a USC international relations student was a volleyball star. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, did not have the chance to watch Ross' daughter blossom into the beach volleyball's biggest star. Ross's mom passed away due to breast cancer when she was a sophomore at USC. But she still keeps her parents close to her his heart. Margie has inspired her throughout her life, as well as on the beach.