April Ross

April Ross was one of just a handful of women beach volleyball athletes who earned medals in more than one Olympics. Alix-Klineman will be competing with Ross at Tokyo in order to claim her third gold medal in the next couple of days. Ross wants to achieve more than her first Olympic medal. And at the age of 39, this could be her final chance to do so. However, she is certain of taking top honors. Ross said on NBC Boston: "If we do our best and even if we just play well, I think we could be able to win gold." That's why I'm taking the chance as well. Ross was born in 1982 in Costa Mesa California where she lived with her parents and her sister. Ross competed in many activities while at Newport Harbor High School. While a prep student she was a participant in the indoor game of volleyball, as well as basketball as well as running track. However, she was a standout during this game. According to her bio, she played an outside blocker as well as a middle volleyball player during her high-school career. The results of her efforts were acknowledged in 1999 when she was named Gatorade's Circle of Champions National Players of the Year. In 2000, the Orange County Athlete of the Month award was also won by her due to her volleyball skills. Ross is working with Klineman from 2017. However, Ross's beach game was established well before this. It's true that she's been a winner of numerous major tournaments and one partner was a renowned volleyball player. Jennifer Kessy coached her from 2007 to 2013. Ross, the teammate of Kessy's, who won the world title alongside Kessy in 2009 was also significant on the an international level. The pair eventually picked up a silver medal in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. They were defeated for the gold medal by the legendary group comprising Misty and Kerri Walsh (Jennings). Ross Jennings took over for May-Treanor when she retired. In 2016, the pair won bronze in the Rio Olympics for beach volleyball. Ross competed for USC Trojans throughout her college years before becoming a professional. The Trojans had a great career for Ross in the school. In 2000, as a freshman she earned Pac-10 and NCAA The Freshman of the Year honors and earned an All-American. Additionally, she was an integral player in helping the Trojans reach the Final Four. In her sophomore year, she experienced a devastating personal setback but managed to be a second All-American. In her last two years, she took the Trojans up to the summit and took home consecutive national championships. For her part Ross established her status as a legend by winning the Honda Sports Award for 2003-04. This prize was awarded to the top female college volleyball players in the country. Ross was a major in international relations at USC. Unfortunately Ross mother Margie was not able to witness Ross's daughter reach the highest levels of beach volleyball superstardom. Ross suffered the loss of her mother to breast cancer in the year 2001. Ross was then a sophomore. Ross is still awed by her mother who died. Margie is a constant source of inspiration for her in and out of the water.