April Ross

April Ross is only one of only a handful of 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. Ross wants to achieve more than just her first Olympic medal. And at the age of 39, this could be her last opportunity to accomplish this. Her optimism is that she can achieve top honors. Ross was mentioned on NBC Boston as saying that if you play your best, even if you do well, we'll get the gold. Also, I am going put my faith in a touch of good luck. Ross was born on the 22nd of October, 1982. She was raised in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and her sister. Ross's athletic endeavors began at Newport Harbor High School where she participated in several activities. When she was a student in the prep school, she competed in indoor volleyball along with basketball and track. However she was clearly a cut above the rest in the latter sport. Her college biography states that she was an outside-hitting hitter middle blocker, and setter in her volleyball playing career at high school. Gatorade Circle of Champions named her as the National Player 1999. Also, in 2000 she was awarded the Orange County Athlete of the Yr for volleyball. Ross Klineman and Ross may be working on a project in 2017, but Ross was already an established athlete at the beach prior to when they joined forces. In fact, she's had the chance to win numerous tournaments, including one with an iconic volleyball player. From 2007 until 2013, she was a team alongside Jennifer Kessy who more recently played the role of Klineman's coach. Ross, Kessy's fellow teammate who was the winner of the world championship together with Kessy in 2009 was also significant on the an international level. At the 2012 Olympic Games, they received a gold medal. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the team to beat out for gold. Ross Jennings replaced May-Treanor after she had retired. They won the bronze medal in beach volleyball during the Rio Olympics 2016. Ross was a college athlete for USC Trojans before her pro career. She played in high school and in some years before she hit the beach as a professional. Her time at USC was quite impressive. The year 2000 was her freshman year. was when she won the Pac-10 and NCAA Freshman's of Year awards and be an All-American. The Trojans had the chance to make it to the Final Four with her help. In her sophomore season, she experienced a terrible personal loss and still earned the distinction of being an All-American. In her final two seasons with the Trojans she was instrumental in helping them achieve consecutive championships. As an individual, she established herself as an all-time legend winning the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the highest ranked female volleyball player. Ross was an international relations student at USC. Unfortunately Ross mother Margie did not get to see her daughter ascend to the very top of beach volleyball superstardom. Ross's mom passed away due to breast cancer while she was in her sophomore year at USC. She continues to keep her mother's memory close and dear. Margie has inspired her throughout her life, as well as on the beach.