Beach Volleyball: Ross wins again on AVP Tour

June has been a great month for April Ross, the Costa Mesa resident and former Newport Harbor High standout.

Ross and Jennifer Kessy won their third consecutive Assn. of Volleyball Professionals tournament this month with a 21-16, 21-13 win over Rachel Scott and Elaine Youngs in Sunday’s final of the AVP Nivea Tour Belmar Open in New Jersey.

This tournament was the first time Ross and Kessy were the No. 1-seeded team. But that didn’t mean things came easy for the duo.

Unlike their previous title wins in Huntington Beach and Virginia Beach, Kessy and Ross needed to advance through the contenders’ bracket after losing to Scott and Youngs, 21-14, 21-17, in the semifinals.

With victories over Lauren Fendrick and Ashley Ivy (21-11, 21-13) and No. 2 seeds Nicole Branagh and Misty May-Treanor, 21-14, 19-21, 15-11, Kessy and Ross earned themselves an afternoon rematch with Scott and Youngs for the championship.

The AVP Tour schedule resumes in three weeks with the Hermosa Beach Open, July 16-18.

— From staff reports