April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball athletes to win medals at many Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo to compete for her third Olympic medal with Alix Klineman, a first time Olympian. Ross's aim is to get her first Olympic gold medal. The next opportunity she gets as she is 39 years old. But she's convinced that top honors are firmly within reach. Ross stated via NBC Boston: "If we perform our best and If we play our best I'm sure we'll be able to win gold." In addition, I'll try some luck. Ross was born in 1982 in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents as well as a sister. In Newport Harbor High School, she played in a variety of activities. Along with the indoor game, she also played basketball and jogged track as a pre-collegiate athlete. She was definitely a cut above the rest in the latter sport. Her college biography states that she was an outside-hitting hitter middle blocker and setter during her volleyball career during high school. As a tribute to her efforts, she received the Gatorade Award for National Player in 1999. The year 2000 was the time she received her the Orange County Athlete of the year award for volleyball. While Ross Klineman and Ross are in the spotlight since 2017, the former had already been a major participant on the beaches even before the pair formed. She actually won several major championships while playing using two partners, among them the volleyball legend. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 to 2013. Together with Kessy Ross was awarded the World Championship in 2009, while racing in the international circuit. They were awarded a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. They were beaten out for the gold medal by the legendary team comprising Misty and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings was May-Treanor's replacement after she had retired. They were able to win bronze in beach volleyball in the Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross played for the Trojans of USC in her college years after she graduated in high school. The time she spent in the Trojans' ranks was one to remember. As a freshman in 2000 she played her way to Pac-10 as well as NCAA All-American Freshman of Year awards and was also an All-American. The Trojans made it to the Final Four. Her sophomore year was the time she was devastated by a personal setback, but she was able to be a second All-American. Through her last two years within the team, she guided the Trojans towards the top of the mountain winning successive national titles. As an individual Ross established her status as a legend when she won the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. This award was given to the best female college volleyball players across the nation. Ross was a student of the study of international relations in USC. Margie Ross was never able to watch her daughter's climb to the beach volleyball spotlight. When Ross was a sophomore studying at USC her mother passed away due to breast cancer. She continues to cherish her parents who passed away. Also, Margie remains a source of encouragement for her on the beach as well as in everyday her daily life.