April Ross

April Ross is one of just a handful of female beach volleyball players to win medals at many Olympics. Alix-Klineman will compete with Ross at Tokyo in order to claim her third gold in the next few days. Ross hopes to win the Olympic the first medal of gold, but she's also hoping for greater. In fact, at 39 this may be her final chance to accomplish this. Her optimism is that she will be able to win top awards. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we perform our best and If we play our best, I think we could win the gold medal." "I'm trying to also try some luck." Ross was born in California in Costa Mesa in 1982. She grew up in Costa Mesa with her father, mother and sibling. Ross played in numerous activities while at Newport Harbor High School. As a pre-schooler, she competed in basketball, indoor volleyball and running track. Although she was a pro when playing indoors but it was apparent that her skills were above the average. In her own biography her high school days, she was a volleyball player as an outside hitter (middle blocker) as well as a setter (outside blocker). In recognition of her accomplishments, she received the Gatorade Award for the National Player of 1999. In 2000, she received the Orange County Athlete of the Year award in volleyball. Even though Ross Klineman and Ross are a couple since 2017, the former was already an established participant on the beaches long before their pairing. She's won big events twice, with various partners. One of them has become an icon in the volleyball world. Ross teamed up along with Jennifer Kessy from 2007-2013, and was also Klineman's trainer. Ross, Kessy's fellow teammate who took home the title of world champion alongside Kessy in 2009 was also a major force on an international level. They were awarded a silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. They were defeated for the gold medal by the legendary group of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings became Walsh Jennings partner in fate after Maytreanor's retirement. They both went on to take home the bronze medal in beach volleyball at Rio Olympics 2016 with Walsh Jennings. Ross was a student athlete with the Trojans of USC prior to starting her professional career. She played during high school, as well as before hitting the beach professionally. Her time in the Trojans' ranks was one to remember. In 2000, as a freshman she fought her way to Pac-10 as well as NCAA The Freshman of the Year honors and was an All-American. Her performance also assisted in helping the Trojans to make it to their first Final Four. The second season of her career she was devastated by a personal loss and still managed to earn the honor of being named an All-American. In her last two seasons in the Trojans' program, she led them to success by winning two the national title in consecutive years. As an individual, she established herself as an all-time great by winning the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the nation's top female collegiate volleyball player. Ross studied the field of international relations in USC. Margie Ross was never able to see her daughter make it to the top of beach volleyball. Ross's mother Margie died in 2001 when Ross was an USC sophomore. Her breast cancer had been diagnosed. She continues to cherish her parents who passed away. Margie has always been a source of inspiration for her at and off the beaches.