April Ross

April Ross is one of only a few female beach volleyball athletes to win medals at multiple Olympics. Alix Klineman is a new Olympian and will join the team in Tokyo. Ross's dream is to earn her first Olympic Gold. Since she's 39 years old she could have her last chance. But she's still certain of taking top honors. Ross stated via NBC Boston: "If we try our best, and even playing well I believe we can be able to win gold." Then I will also take some luck. Ross was born on the 22nd of October, 1982. She was raised in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and sister. While at Newport Harbor High School, she was a participant in many different sports. In her time as a college athlete, she also played indoor track and volleyball. While she did well in indoor volleyball but it was apparent that her performance was above the average. In her own biography, during high school she was a volleyball player as an outside hitter (middle blocker) and setting (outside blocker). Gatorade Circle Of Champions named her the National Player of 1999. She also captured the 1999 Orange County Athlete of the Year trophy for volleyball. Ross is playing alongside Klineman since the year 2017 but her beach game had been established long before that. Actually Ross has won a number of major tournaments in her career with two partners. One of them is a legend. Ross teamed up along with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and was also Klineman's trainer. Ross, Kessy's fellow teammate who won the world title alongside Kessy in 2009, was also a major force on an international level. This duo went into winning a silver at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the team to beat for the gold. Ross Walsh was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's departure. The duo were able to win the beach volleyball bronze at the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross started her college career with the USC Trojans in graduation from high school. It was a long time before Ross made her debut on the sand and turned professional. Her time at USC was quite impressive. In 2000 she was voted Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and NCAA Freshman Of The Year, and was also an All-American. Her performance also assisted in helping the Trojans reach their first Final Four. Her heart was broken by a personal tragedy during her sophomore years, yet she went on to be an All-American once more. Through her last two years as a player, she led the Trojans up to the top of the mountain winning consecutive national championships. In 2003-2004, she was named the best female volleyball player on the collegiate scene in America according to the Honda Sports Award. Ross studied international relations at USC. Margie Ross was never able to see her daughter's climb to beach volleyball fame. Ross lost the breast cancer that she battled in 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. She continues to keep her mother's memory close and close. Margie is a source of inspiration throughout her life, as well as on the beach.