April Ross

April Ross has won more than one Olympic medal. Ross is among only a handful of female beach volleyball players to be able to do so. Alix-Klineman will be competing with Ross at Tokyo for her third gold medal over the next couple of days. Ross is also hoping to win her first Olympic gold. It may well be that she has one opportunity, given that she is 39 years old. She remains optimistic that she'll be successful in achieving top honours. Ross stated to NBC Boston that if they play their best, and even play well and they are able to play well, the team could win a gold medal. It's also going to be an issue of luck. Ross was a Californian born in the city of Costa Mesa in 1982. She grew up in Costa Mesa with her father, mother and younger sister. Ross competed in many sports during her time at Newport Harbor High School. In addition to playing indoor volleyball, she also played basketball and jogged track in her pre-college days. When she played in the final sport she was clearly the standout. When she played in her college volleyball season as per her college profile, she played as an outside-hitter, middle blocker and setter. Her achievements were rewarded by her being named 1999 Gatorade's National Circle of Champions Players of the Year. Also, she won the 1999 Orange County Athlete of the year award for volleyball. Ross and Klineman have been continuing to play since 2017. But, Ross was an important player on the beach volleyball circuit before the pairing. In actual Ross has won a number of important tournaments throughout her career together with two other partners. One is a volleyball legend. The pair teamed along with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and also was Klineman's coach. Kessy as well as Ross proved to be an impressive force on the international circuit, winning a 2009 world title with each other. They took home a Silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Misty Maytreanor (Jennings) as well as Misty Maytreanor won gold, beating them to it. Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor after she announced her retirement. The team won bronze in beach volleyball during the Rio Olympics 2016. Ross began her college professional career playing for the Trojans of USC in graduation from high school. This was years before Ross hit the beach and became a professional. And her run in the Trojans' ranks was one to remember. She was a All-American and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year when she was a teen freshman. The Trojans had the chance to make it to the Final Four with her help. The Trojans were devastated through a tragedy in her life during her sophomore year. However, she went on to be an All-American again. In the two years she played for the Trojans, she helped them achieve consecutive championships. She was a great volleyball player, winning the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the best female volleyball player at the college level. Ross was a student at USC in International Relations. Unfortunately, Ross mother Margie did not get to see Ross's daughter reach the highest levels of beach volleyball fame. Ross lost her mom to cancer of the breast in the year 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. However, she keeps her parents close to her the heart. Margie continues to be an inspiration both on and off at the beach.