April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball stars to capture medals at more than one Olympics. Alix Klineman, playing for the first time in Tokyo's Olympics is hoping to secure her third medal. Ross's dream is to earn her first Olympic Gold. The next time she has the chance as she is 39 years old. Her confidence is high nevertheless. Ross, via NBC Boston, said that if the team plays well or at all they can earn a gold. This is also a matter of chance. Ross was born in California in Costa Mesa, California in 1982. She lived here along with her parents and sibling. Along with participating in a variety of sports, Ross also attended Newport Harbor High School. She competed in basketball and track in addition to her indoor volleyball exploits as a prep athlete. In the last sport she was clearly the standout. Her college biography states that she played outside of the hitter, middle blocker, and setter in her volleyball playing career at high school. To honor her achievements, she received the Gatorade Award for National Player 1999. Also, in 2000 she was awarded the Orange County Athlete of the year for volleyball. Ross and Klineman may have started working together at the beginning of 2017, but Ross was an experienced volleyball player before they came together. It's true that she's had numerous big wins as well as one of her partners was a volleyball superstar. From 2007 until 2013, she was a team together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently served as her and Klineman's coach. Kessy was Ross's co-coach at the World Championships of 2009. The duo eventually captured a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The Misty Maytreanor legendary team and Kerri Jennings took home the gold. Ross Walsh was Walsh Jennings new partner after May-Treanor's retirement. The duo were able to win bronze in beach volleyball during the Rio Olympics in 2016. Following high school, and for a few several years prior to hitting the sand professionally, Ross was a ball with the Trojans of USC as an collegiate. She had a great run through the NCAA tournament. She was a All-American as well as Pac-10 freshman of the year in 2000 as a young freshman. Her Trojans made it to the Final Four. In her sophomore year, she suffered a tremendous personal setback but managed to make it back as an All-American. Over her final 2 seasons with the Trojans program, she guided the Trojans to winning a national title each year. For her part, she cemented her place as a legend by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. The award is given to the best female college volleyball players in the country. Ross majored at USC in International Relations. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, did not have the opportunity to see Ross' daughter blossom into the beach volleyball's biggest star. Ross lost the breast cancer that she battled in the year 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. In the aftermath, Ross remains near to her mother who passed away. Margie remains a constant source of inspiration for her, both at and off the beaches.