Ross, sans partner ousted

April Ross, playing without partner Kerri Walsh Jennings, who is boycotting the event over the implementation of rules changes for the event, lost in the contender’s bracket of the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals’ Championship on Saturday in Chicago.

Ross, a Costa Mesa resident and Newport Harbor High product who won a bronze medal with Walsh Jennings in beach volleyball at the Rio Olympics, elected to compete with first-year player Kelly Reeves.

Ross and Reeves, the No. 3 seeds, were defeated, 21-18, 19-21, 15-10, by No. 4-seeded Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat. Ross and Reeves finished seventh.

Ross and Reeves were knocked into the contender’s bracket after falling, 15-21, 21-17, 15-9, to Costa Mesa resident Jennifer Fopma and Emily Stockman, the No. 6 seeds, in the third round of the main draw on Saturday.

Ross and Reeves then defeated No. 8-seeded Amanda Dowdy and former UC Irvine standout Whitney Pavlik, 21-11, 21-16, to advance in the contender’s bracket.

Walsh Jennings said in a Facebook post that she boycotted to protest the fact that AVP management did not “honestly or meaningfully discussing [the rules changes] with the Player Committee or the athletes on tour.”

— From staff reports