April Ross

April Ross is only one of the beach volleyball players to have won medals at least twice in an Olympics. Ross will compete in Tokyo for her third Olympic medal with Alix Klineman, a first-time Olympian. More than that though Ross hopes to win her first Olympic gold. Perhaps this is her only chance at winning, as she's 39 old. The athlete is optimistic she can achieve top honors. Ross stated to NBC Boston that if they play their best, or play a great game and they are able to play well, the team could win a gold medal. That's why I'm taking a little bit of luck also. Ross, who was born 1982, and grew up in Costa Mesa California with her siblings and parents, started playing athletics at Newport Harbor High School. The athletic pursuits she pursued continued at Newport Harbor High School where she played in a variety of different sports. Apart from indoor volleyball, she ran track and basketball in her pre-college days. In her final game, she clearly stood out. In her time at high school, she played middle blocker, outside hitter and setter in the court for volleyball, according to her college bio. Thanks to her hard work she was named the 1999 Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. The year 2000 was the time she won her the Orange County Athlete of the of the year for volleyball. Ross is currently playing with Klineman since 2017 but her beach game had been established long before this. She actually won numerous major events in the past with two different partners. one of whom is a volleyball icon. Between 2007 and 2013, she was partnered with Jennifer Kessy, who is the coach she is currently. Kessy and Ross were an impressive force on the international arena, taking home a 2009 world title as a team. The pair eventually picked up a silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The Misty Maytreanor legendary team along with Kerri Jennings took home the gold. Ross Jennings replaced May-Treanor when she retired. They went on to compete for the bronze beach volleyball trophy in the Rio Olympics in 2016 along with Walsh Jennings. Ross was a college athlete at USC Trojans prior to beginning the start of her professional career. She was a player in high school, and even some years before she hit the beach as a professional. Her time in the Trojans' ranks was a memorable one. When she was a freshman in 2000 Her performance was rewarded with the Pac-10 as well as NCAA the Freshman of the Year award. The team also saw her help in helping the Trojans to make it to the Final Four. After her sophomore year, she experienced a terrible personal tragedy, but was able to be named an All-American. Over her final two years within the team, she guided the Trojans towards the summit winning consecutive national championships. In 2003-2004, she was named the best collegiate female volleyball player in the US by the Honda Sports Award. Ross studied international relations at USC. Margie Ross was never able to see her daughter achieve the heights in beach volleyball. Margie, Ross's mother, passed away in 2001, when Ross was a USC sophomore. Her breast cancer had been diagnosed. As a result, Ross continues to be close to her parent who died. Margie continues to be a source of inspiration, both off and on of the beach.