April Ross

April Ross was one of the few female beach volleyball players who have won medals at more than one Olympics. She is set to compete in Tokyo for her 3rd Olympic medal with Alix Klineman who is a first time Olympian. Ross's goal is to win her first Olympic Gold. With her age of 39, this may be her final chance to win the gold medal at an Olympics. She remains optimistic that she'll be successful in achieving top honours. Ross stated to NBC Boston that if they are at their absolute best or even a good game her team can win a gold medal. "I'm also going to try to have a bit of luck." Ross was born in 1982 and lived within Costa Mesa California with her siblings and parents, started competing in sports at the Newport Harbor High School. Ross played in numerous sports during her time at Newport Harbor High School. Along with indoor volleyball, she ran track and basketball in her pre-college days. She was definitely superior to the rest in this latter game. Her college biography states that she played outside of the hitter middle blocker, as well as a setter throughout her volleyball time at high school. In recognition of her work she was named in 1999 as the Gatorade Champion of Champions Circle of Champions Player of the Year. She also was awarded the Orange County Athlete of the Year award in volleyball. Ross is playing alongside Klineman since the year 2017 but her beach game had been established long before this. It's true that she's been a winner of numerous major tournaments and one of them was a volleyball superstar. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 through the year 2013. Ross, the teammate of Kessy's, who was the winner of the world championship with Kessy in 2009, also was an important player on the world stage. This duo went on to win a silver in the 2012 Olympic Games at London. They were beaten out for the gold by the legendary duo comprised of Misty May-Treanor as well as Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings became Walsh Jennings partner in fate after Maytreanor's retirement. They took home the bronze medal in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics 2016. Ross competed for USC Trojans throughout her college years before becoming a professional. And her run in the Trojans' ranks was an impressive one. She was a All-American as well as Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in the year 2000, a young freshman. The Trojans could also reach the Final Four with her help. The Trojans suffered a significant personal defeat in her sophomore year yet was successful in achieving the All-American award. The two years following her, she took the Trojans up the mountain and won consecutive national titles. In 2003-2004, she was named as the most successful female volleyball player on the collegiate scene in America by the Honda Sports Award. Ross who was a USC international relations student, was a volleyball star. Margie Ross did not get to witness Ross achieve beach volleyball's top level. Ross's mom Margie passed away in 2001, when Ross was a USC sophomore. She had breast cancer. She has kept her parents close to her heart. Margie has been an inspiration throughout her life, as well as on the beach.