April Ross

April Ross is only one of the few beach volleyball players who have earned medals more than once at an Olympics. Alix Klineman, playing for the first time at Tokyo's Olympic Games is hoping to secure her third medal. Ross's goal is to win her first Olympic gold medal. Since she's 39 years old, it may be her last shot. Nevertheless she is confident that the top awards are in reach. Ross was mentioned in NBC Boston as saying that if you play your highest, and even do well, we'll get the gold. Also, it's an issue of luck. Ross born August 22nd, 1982 in Costa Mesa California. She lived there together with her parents. In Newport Harbor High School, she played in a variety of sports. As a prep-athlete, she also played indoor volleyball and track. She was definitely a cut above the rest when it came to the second sport. In her time at high school, she was a middle blocker outside setter and hitter at the tennis court as per her bio at the college. Thanks to her hard work she was named the 1999 Gatorade International Player of the year in Circle of Champions. Her skills in volleyball won her an Orange County Athlete of the Awards in 2000. Although Ross and Klineman are in the spotlight since the year 2017, Klineman was already an established participant on the beaches long before their pairing. She has won major competitions with different players. The other is an icon of the volleyball world. From 2007 until 2013, she was a team together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently was Klineman's coach. Kessy was Ross's teammate at the World Championships of 2009. In 2012, the duo won silver at London's Olympics. They were beaten out for the gold by the legendary team comprised of Misty May-Treanor as well as Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor after she announced her retirement. They went on to compete for the bronze beach volleyball trophy at the Rio Olympics 2016. They were joined by Walsh Jennings. Ross played for the Trojans of USC during her college days, the years prior to her professional career. Her career was a success through the NCAA tournament. When she was a freshman at the school in 2000 she played her way to Pac-10 and NCAA The Freshman of the Year honors and was an All-American. The Trojans made it to the Final Four. Her personal life was tense after a devastating loss during her sophomore year, yet was capable of achieving the All-American distinction. The last two years as a member of the Trojans team they won victories by winning consecutive national championships. She had established herself as an all-time legend winning the 2003-2004 Honda Sports Award as the highest ranked female volleyball player. Ross was an international relations student at USC. Unfortunately Ross mom Margie never got to see Ross rise to the top levels of beach volleyball fame. Ross's mother died of breast cancer while she was a sophomore at USC. But she still keeps her parents close to her heart. Margie is a beach lover as well as in everyday life, inspires her.