April Ross and her superstar partner Kerri Walsh-Jennings are marching even closer to beach volleyball Olympic gold in the Rio games. While Kerri has three gold medals already, this would be April’s first. Here are five things to know about April.
1. April is a Southern California native.
She was born in Costa Mesa, CA and played volleyball at Newport Harbor High School in nearby Newport Beach.
2. April was a standout college volleyball star.
She was recruited to play at the University of Southern California, and in her final two years at the school she led the team to NCAA championships, including an undefeated season in her senior year.
3. In April’s first year as a pro beach volleyball player, she and her partner Jen Kessy defeated the world’s top ranked duo.
On Sept. 7, 2008, April and Jen stunned the world when they upset her future partner Kerri Walsh-Jennings and Misty May-Treanor at the AVP tour stop in Santa Barbara, CA. Kerri and Misty had been the top ranked female team for years and were already Olympic gold medalists when upstarts April and Jen took them out.
4. April already has a silver medal.
April and Jen made it all the way to the finals of the London 2012 Olympics, but had to face Misty and Kerri, who shut them down to win their third straight gold medal.
5. Kerri asked April to be her new partner after her London Olympics win.
Misty had announced that she’d be retiring after the 2012 games, leaving Kerri in need of a new partner to continue on with her legendary volleyball career. As she was hugging April after beading her in London, she told her “Let’s go get gold in Rio.” the pair then began training together and became the superstars of the AVP tour circuit before heading to Rio to compete in their first Olympics together.
HollywoodLifers, are you rooting for April and Kerri to win the gold in Rio?
