April Ross

April Ross is only one of the few beach volleyball athletes to win medals at least twice in an Olympics. Alix Klineman is the newest Olympian and is set to join her in Tokyo. But more than that, Ross hopes to win her first Olympic gold. It may well be that this is her only opportunity, given that she is 39 years old. However, she's convinced that top prizes can be achieved. Ross stated to NBC Boston that if they perform at their very best, and even play well her team will be able to win the gold medal. "I'm trying to also try a little luck." Ross was born in California in Costa Mesa in 1982. She grew up in Costa Mesa with her mother, father and younger sister. Apart from playing in numerous sport, she also attended Newport Harbor High School. As a prep-athlete she was also a participant in indoor volleyball and track. She was clearly the best in the game of indoor volleyball. Based on her bio, she was an outside blocker as well as a middle hitter on the volleyball court during her senior year at high school. Her efforts were recognized when she was named 1999 Gatorade's National Circle of Champions Player of the Year. Her volleyball skills also earned her the Orange County Athlete of the Year award in the year 2000. Ross and Klineman have been continuing to play in 2017. However, Ross played a significant role on the beach volleyball circuit before the pairing. In fact, she won several major championships while playing with two different partners, one of whom is a volleyball icon. Between 2007 and 2013 she played with Jennifer Kessy, who is the coach she is currently. Kessy's teammate Ross, who took home the title of world champion together with Kessy in 2009 was also significant on the an international level. The 2012 Olympic Games, they won a gold medal. Misty May Treanor and Kerri Jennings, the team of legends who was the winners of the 2012 Olympics in London, edged their opponents to claim the gold. Ross became Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's departure. In 2016, the pair took bronze at the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross was a college athlete with the Trojans of USC prior to starting her professional career. She was a player in high school, and even years prior to hitting the beach as a professional. Her experience at USC was awe-inspiring. In 2000, she was voted Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and NCAA Freshman Of The Year and an All-American. The Trojans were also able to reach the Final Four with her help. Her heart was broken through a tragedy in her life during her second year, but she managed to become an All-American in her second year. Over her final two years in the program she led the Trojans towards the summit winning consecutive national championships. She was a fantastic player on the court, and was awarded the Honda Sports Award in 2003-04 as the top female volleyball player at the college level. Ross took a course in international relations at USC. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, was never given the opportunity to see Ross' daughter blossom into an international beach volleyball star. Ross suffered the loss of her mom to cancer of the breast in the year 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. Her mother is still close to her heart. Margie has been an inspiration both in her personal life and at the beaches.