April Ross

April Ross has won more than one medal at the Olympics. Ross is among only a handful of female players of beach volleyball that have achieved this feat. Alix Klineman, playing for the first time at the Tokyo Olympics is hoping to secure her third medal. Ross will also be hoping for her very first Olympic medal. At 39, this could be her last chance to take home an Olympic gold. However, she's convinced that top prizes can be achieved. Ross said on NBC Boston: "If we try our best, and even If we play our best, I think we could get the gold medal." Also, I am going be relying on a little bit of luck. Ross was a Californian born in Costa Mesa in 1982. Her family lived in the area with her mother, father and younger sister. At Newport Harbor High School, she was a participant in many activities. The prep sports she played included indoor volleyball along with basketball as well as running and track. However, she was a standout during this game. Through her high school years, she played middle blocker, outside setter and hitter in the court for volleyball as per her college bio. Her efforts were recognized by her being named 1999 Gatorade's National Circle of Champions players of the year. The year 2000 was the time she was awarded the Orange County Athlete of the of the year for volleyball. Although Ross and Klineman are in the spotlight from 2017 onward, the former was already a big-time player on the beach scene even before the pair formed. It's true that she's won multiple big tournaments and one of them was an all-star volleyball player. In the period 2007 until 2013, she was a team together with Jennifer Kessy who more recently served as her and Klineman's coach. Kessy as well as Ross proved to be an impressive force on the international arena, taking home the 2009 World Championship with each other. The pair eventually picked up an Olympic silver medal during the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Misty Maytreanor (Jennings) as well as Misty Maytreanor won gold, beating them to it. As fate would have it Ross turned out to be Walsh Jennings' new partner as May-Treanor stepped down. They both went on to take home the bronze beach volleyball trophy at Rio Olympics 2016. They were joined by Walsh Jennings. Following high school, and for a few many years before hitting the sand as a pro Ross was a ball for the USC Trojans as a collegiate. It was a successful performance for Ross during her time at the university. In 2000 she was named Pac-10 Freshman as well as NCAA Freshman of the Year, and was also an All-American. In addition, she helped her Trojans get to the Final Four. She was devastated through a tragedy in her life during her second year, but she went on to be an All-American again. Over the course of her final two seasons she led the Trojans up the mountain and clinched consecutive national championships. Her individual achievements have cemented her as a volleyball legend. She was awarded the Honda Sports Award 2003-04 for the top female NCAA player. Ross was an international relations major at USC. Margie Ross did not get to watch her daughter's climb to the beach volleyball spotlight. As of 2001, when Ross was in her sophomore year studying at USC her mother passed away due to breast cancer. Ross is still awed by her late parent. And Margie continues to be an encouragement for her on the beach and in life.