Ross collects honor

April Ross, a Costa Mesa resident and former Newport Harbor High volleyball standout, has been named 2013 Female Beach Athlete of the Year by USA Volleyball.

Ross, a 2012 Olympic silver medalist who played with three partners, played in nine domestic and 13 international tournaments in 2013, earning six titles and several other top-three finishes.

In seven Assn. of Volleyball Professionals events, she won three times, twice with longtime partner Jennifer Kessy (Salt Lake City, and Atlantic City) and once with three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings (Santa Barbara).

Ross also won the World Series Cup with Kessy at the World Series of Beach Volleyball in Long Beach, and advanced to the final of the AVP event in St. Petersburg, Fla., before rained forced a cancellation of the title match.

She won two Federation International de Volleyball tournament titles with Walsh Jennings.

Ross was third three times on the AVP tour.

Ross and Walsh Jennings, who played with Misty May-Treanor until the former Newport Harbor star retired following the 2012 Olympics in London, are scheduled to play together full time next season.

— From staff reports