April Ross

April Ross is one of only a few female beach volleyball athletes to capture medals at many Olympics. In Tokyo during the next few days she will attempt to win her third gold medal along with the first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. Ross hopes to win more than her initial Olympic medal. As she is 39 and has a long way to go, this could be her last shot. Nevertheless she is confident that winning the gold medal is within reach. Ross, via NBC Boston, said that if the team plays well or at all they could win a gold. Also, I'll take some chances. Ross was born in Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents as well as her sister were residents there. Ross competed in many activities while at Newport Harbor High School. While a prep student she played basketball, indoor volleyball and track. She was definitely superior to the rest in this latter game. According to her bio in high school, she played volleyball as an outside setter (middle blocker) and the setter (outside blocker). Gatorade Circle of Champions named her the national Player of 1999. She also captured the award in 2000. Orange County Athlete of the Year trophy for volleyball. Ross and Klineman started their relationship in 2017 but Ross had been a beach-scene player for years prior to. In fact, she won several major championships while playing with two different partners, one of which is the volleyball legend. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 through 2013. Kessy was Ross's teammate at the World Championships in 2009. The duo would go on to win a silver in the 2012 Olympic Games at London. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings, the team of legends which took home the Olympic gold medal in 2012 in London, took each other to take home the gold. Ross Jennings replaced May-Treanor when she retired. The team won bronze in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics 2016. Ross participated in the Trojans at USC during her the college years following her graduation from the high school she attended. The time she spent at USC was an impressive one. As a freshman in 2000 she fought her way to Pac-10 and NCAA Freshman of the Year accolades. She also was also an All-American. Her performance also assisted in helping the Trojans to make it to the Final Four. The second season of her career, she experienced a terrible personal loss and still was able to be named an All-American. Over her final two years within the team, she guided the Trojans up to the summit of the mountain by winning two consecutive national championships. In 2003-2004, she was named as the most successful female volleyball player at a collegiate level in the United States by the Honda Sports Award. Ross was who was a USC international relations student, was a volleyball star. Margie Ross did not see her daughter achieve the heights of beach volleyball. When Ross was in her sophomore year in USC her mother died of breast cancer. As a result, Ross is still close to her parent who died. Margie is a constant source of inspiration for her, both at and off the beaches.