Ross, partner cruise into final
LONG BEACH – There is, for April Ross at least, 2020 foresight. While the reflection of winning a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics is still fresh, as well as both joyous and painful, the quest for Olympic gold in Tokyo is already coming vaguely into focus.
But just now, just more than a week after the Rio rollercoaster, the sand beneath the feet of Ross and beach volleyball partner Kerri Walsh Jennings is firm enough to suit them both. It is also, they both said, getting better all the time.
Ross, a Costa Mesa resident and former standout at Newport Harbor High, and Walsh Jennings handled the No. 5-seeded German duo of Julie Sude and Chantal Laboureur, 21-17, 21-16, in the semifinals of the World Series of Beach Volleyball on Saturday at Alamitos Beach.
The victory propelled the top-seeded Americans to their third straight final in the Federation International de Volleyball World Tour event at which both Ross and Walsh Jennings, a Manhattan Beach resident, enjoy a home-court advantage.
Ross and Walsh Jennings will meet No. 7-seeded Brazilians Liliana Fernandez and Elsa Baquerizo in Sunday’s nationally televised final.
“I think we’re recovering [from Rio] as the week goes on, if not mentally, for sure emotionally,” said Ross, who joined Walsh Jennings in acknowledging they both felt better Saturday than they did on Tuesday. “It helps that it’s so fun out here and people are showing up and are fired up. They are carrying us right now.”
Last year in Long Beach, Ross was carrying Walsh Jennings, who was gamely competing through a damaged shoulder that ultimately required surgery. They lost in the final.
But both players, who have a combined 184 professional beach tournament titles (132 for Walsh Jennings, most ever for a woman) appeared to be near the top of their game Saturday.
“It felt really good,” Walsh Jennings said of Saturday’s win, during which the Germans’ lone lead in the opening set was at 3-2 and their final lead in the second set was 7-6. “It felt really in sync. I think from the get-go, we put pressure on them with our serve and that really played well into our defense. April covered every inch of sand out there and they never got a clean shot. I think [Ross’] presence just got bigger and bigger.”
The 6-foot-1 Ross, 34, had 14 kills and four aces, two in each set.
The 6-3 Walsh Jennings, 38, had 12 kills and one stuff block.
Ross, considered the top server among American women and on the short list of those around the world, said conditions at Alamitos Beach favor her aggressive serving game.
“I have really good memories out here of last year and the year before and I love jump serving at this tournament,” Ross said. “The conditions are kind of perfect for it. It’s just fun. I’m just throwing [the ball] up and going after it.
“The surface is a little bit harder and the flow is better. I can get up higher and I can project farther into the court. The wind is kind of sideways and it fluctuates, so I can serve from both sides into the wind. And, it’s just a fun [crowd] atmosphere, so that helps, too.”
Walsh Jennings said part of the fun is witnessing Ross rip away from the service line.
“There is zero fear or doubt right now and she needs to live in that, because it’s really fun to watch,” Walsh Jennings said. “And the timeliness of her aces have been really, really good. If [the score] is tight early, she gets an ace, or if it’s tight late, she is easing the pressure.”
Ross has openly committed to making a run at Tokyo, but Walsh Jennings said she will determine her future later.
“There is 2020 foresight for me, for sure,” Ross said. “But we’re just trying to enjoy the moment.”
