April Ross

April Ross is one of only a few female beach volleyball athletes to capture medals at many Olympics. She will be competing in Tokyo for her third Olympic medal alongside Alix Klineman, who is a first-time Olympian. Ross also hopes to get her first Olympic gold. In fact, at 39, it could be her last chance to accomplish this. Nevertheless she is confident that the top awards are within reach. Ross declared on NBC Boston: "If we do our best and even playing well I'm sure we'll win the gold medal." It's also going to be an issue of luck. Ross was born in Costa Mesa, California in the year 1982. Her parents as well as her sister resided there. While at Newport Harbor High School, she played in a variety of activities. The prep sports she played included indoor volleyball along with basketball as well as track and running. In the last sport, she clearly stood out. The college bio says that she was an outside-hitting hitter middle blocker, as well as a setter throughout her volleyball time during high school. As a tribute to her efforts, she received the Gatorade Award for the National Player of 1999. The skills she showed in volleyball also earned her the Orange County Athlete of the Year award in the year 2000. Ross Klineman and Ross may be working on a project in the year 2017, however Ross had already been a seasoned player at the beach before they joined forces. The American has been a major winner in events twice, with various partners. A couple of those is an icon in the world of volleyball. From 2007 to 2013, she was partnered with Jennifer Kessy, who is now her coach. Alongside Kessy Ross, she was a major force in the world circuit, winning an international title in 2009. The duo would go into winning a silver at the 2012 Olympic Games at London. Misty May, Kerri Walsh and Kerri Jennings were the trio that could take home the gold. Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor as she left the team. They won bronze in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics in the year 2016. Ross was a college player with the Trojans of USC prior to starting her professional career. She was a player in high school, and even before hitting the beaches as a professional. Ross's Trojans experience was amazing. When she was a freshman at the school in 2000 she fought her way to Pac-10 as well as NCAA All-American Freshman of Year accolades. She also was also an All-American. Her Trojans also reached the Final Four. During her sophomore year she was devastated by a personal setback but managed to repeat as an All-American. The last two years with the Trojans' program they won victory by winning the national title in consecutive years. She had established her place as a legend having won the 2003-04 Honda Sports Award as the most outstanding female college volleyball player. Ross was a USC international relations student, was a volleyball star. Margie Ross, Ross' mother, was never given the privilege of watching her daughter become an international beach volleyball star. In 2001 when Ross was in her sophomore year at USC her mother died of breast cancer. In the aftermath, Ross is still close to her parent who died. Margie is a beach lover and in daily life, inspires her.