April Ross

April Ross is one of only a few female beach volleyball stars to capture medals at more than one Olympics. Ross will compete in Tokyo to compete for her third Olympic medal alongside Alix Klineman, who is a first time Olympian. More than that though Ross hopes to win the first Olympic gold. Since she's 39 years old, it may be her last chance. She is still confident, however. Ross on NBC Boston, said that if the team plays very well, or even at all, they can earn a gold. Also, it's an issue of luck. Ross was born in 1982 in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and her sister. Ross was a competitive athlete in a variety of activities while at Newport Harbor High School. Apart from indoor volleyball, she played basketball and jogged track as a pre-collegiate athlete. She clearly was the top player in indoor volleyball. During her high school career she played middle blocker outside hitter and setter in the court for volleyball as per her college bio. Gatorade Circle Of Champions named her the National Player of 1999. In addition, she was awarded the 2000 Orange County Athlete of the Award for volleyball. Even though Ross and Klineman have been doing their thing from 2017 onward, the former was already an established player on the beach scene prior to their team. It's true that she has had the chance to win numerous events, and one was won by an iconic volleyball player. From 2007 until 2013 she was in a partnership by Jennifer Kessy, who is currently her coach. Kessy and Ross were strong on the world circuit, winning the 2009 World Championship as a team. In 2012, the pair won silver at London's Olympic Games. Misty Maytreanor (Jennings) and Misty Maytreanor clinched gold overtaking them. Ross Jennings replaced May-Treanor when she retired. They took home the bronze medal in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics in 2016. Ross competed for USC Trojans in her college years before becoming a professional. And her run at the school was one to remember. In 2000 she was named Pac-10 Freshman and NCAA Freshman of the Year, and was also an All-American. She was also an integral player to help the Trojans reach it to the Final Four. The Trojans suffered a significant personal loss during her sophomore year, but was still capable of achieving the All-American distinction. The last two years in the Trojans' program the team was led to victory by winning successive national titles. In 2003-04, Ross was named the best female volleyball player at a collegiate level in America according to The Honda Sports Award. Ross was a major in international relations at USC. Margie Ross never saw her daughter achieve the heights in beach volleyball. Margie, Ross's mother, passed away in 2001, when Ross was still a USC sophomore. The cancer was diagnosed as breast. Ross is still awed by her mother who died. Margie remains an inspiration both on and off of the beach.