April Ross

April Ross has won more than one medal at the Olympics. She is one of only a handful of female beach volleyball players who have achieved this feat. In Tokyo over the next several days, she'll be aiming to net her third medal along with first-time Olympian Alix Klineman. In addition, Ross is aiming to capture her very first Olympic gold. At 39, it may be her final chance. But she's still convinced of winning top awards. Ross was quoted by NBC Boston as saying that when you perform at your very top, even if you perform well, you will win the gold. "I'm planning to test a little luck." Ross was born in Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents as well as her sister lived in the area. In Newport Harbor High School, she was a participant in many activities. In addition to the indoor game, she also played basketball and jogged track as a pre-collegiate athlete. While she did well at indoor volleyball, it was clear that her skills were above average. As per her biography, during high school she was a volleyball player as an outside setter (middle blocker) and setter (outside blocker). For her efforts she was awarded an 1999 Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year. Also, in 2000 she was named Orange County Athlete of the Yr for volleyball. Ross and Klineman formed their relationship in 2017 but Ross was a beach scene star for years before. She has won major tournaments twice with different partners. One of them has become an iconic player in the volleyball world. Jennifer Kessy was her partner for six years, from 2007 to the year 2013. She also worked with Klineman and herself. Kessy was Ross's teammate at the World Championships of 2009. The duo would go into winning a silver in the 2012 Olympic Games at London. The legendary Misty Maytreanor team as well as Kerri Jennings took home the gold. Ross became Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's retirement. The team won bronze in beach volleyball during the Rio Olympics 2016. Ross competed for USC Trojans in her college prior to becoming a professional. Ross had an impressive run through the NCAA tournament. In 2000 she was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and NCAA Freshman Of The Year. She was also named an All-American. Her Trojans made it to the Final Four. The Trojans suffered a heartbreaking personal loss during her sophomore year, but she still repeated her place as an All-American. In her last two seasons in the program she led the Trojans to the summit of the mountain winning successive national titles. Her individual achievements have cemented her place as a legendary volleyball player. She won the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the top female NCAA player. Ross studied at USC in International Relations. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, was never given the privilege of watching her daughter become an international beach volleyball star. Ross's mother died of breast cancer while she was a sophomore in USC. Her mother is still very dearly. Margie has always been a source of inspiration to her both in and out of the water.