April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball players to win medals at many Olympics. Alix-Klineman will compete with April Ross Tokyo in order to claim her third gold in the next couple of days. More than that though Ross hopes to win her very first Olympic gold. At 39 and has a long way to go, this could be her last shot. However, she's confident that the top awards are within reach. Ross, via NBC Boston, said that If the team is performing well or at all they could win a gold. That's why I'm taking a little bit of luck too. Ross was born in the city of Costa Mesa, California in 1982. Her parents and her sister were residents in the area. Ross's athletic endeavors continued at Newport Harbor High School where she was a part of a number of different sports. She competed in basketball and the track as well as her indoor volleyball achievements in her time as a college athlete. When she played in the final sport she was clearly the standout. In her time at the high school level in her university biography she played as a middle-blocker, outside-hitter and setter. Thanks to her hard work she was named in 1999 as the Gatorade International Player of the year in Circle of Champions. Also, she won the 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Award for volleyball. Ross and Klineman may have started working together at the beginning of 2017, but Ross was an experienced volleyball player before they teamed up. It's true that she has been able to win multiple events, one of which was with a legendary volleyball player. From 2007 to 2013 she teamed together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently was Klineman's coach. Together, Kessy Ross was a force on the international circuit winning the world championship in 2009. They went into winning a silver at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. The legendary Misty Maytreanor team along with Kerri Jennings took home the gold. Ross Jennings was Walsh Jennings partner in fate when Maytreanor retired. Together, they won bronze in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics of 2016. Ross was a student athlete for USC Trojans before starting her professional career. She was a player in high school and in some years before she hit the beach professionally. Ross's time in the Trojans was amazing. In 2000, she was named Pac-10 Freshman as well as NCAA Freshman Of The Year. She was also named an All-American. Additionally, she assisted her Trojans to make it to the Final Four. Her heart was broken by a tragic incident in her sophomore year. However, she was able to make it an All-American once more. In her two final years with the Trojans they helped achieve consecutive championships. In 2003-2004, Ross was named as the most successful female volleyball player on the collegiate scene in America according to The Honda Sports Award. Ross studied at USC in International Relations. Sadly, Ross mom Margie never got to see Ross rise to the very top of beach volleyball stardom. Ross's mother Margie died in 2001. Ross was an USC sophomore. Her breast cancer had been diagnosed. She still holds her mother dear. Margie is a beach lover and in daily life, continues to inspire her.