April Ross

April Ross (born June 20, 1982) is an American retired professional beach volleyball player renowned for her three Olympic medals, making her one of the most decorated athletes in the sport's history.

Born in Costa Mesa, California, and raised in Newport Beach, Ross excelled in multiple sports during her youth, including soccer and basketball, before focusing on indoor volleyball at Newport Harbor High School, where she was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. At the University of Southern California, she led the Trojans to back-to-back NCAA championships in 2002 and 2003, earning the Honda Sports Award for volleyball and Pac-10 Player of the Year honors as a senior. Transitioning to beach volleyball in 2006 at age 24, she quickly rose to prominence, winning AVP Rookie of the Year that season and FIVB Rookie of the Year in 2007.