U.S. beach volleyball star April Ross calling it a career

Longtime American beach volleyball star April Ross is retiring and the three-time Olympic medalist will be honored Nov. 9 at the Association of Volleyball Professionals league championship in Los Angeles.

Ross, 42, won an Olympic gold medal with Alix Klineman at Tokyo in 2021. She also won silver in 2012 (with Jen Kessy) at London and bronze in 2016 (with Kerri Walsh Jennings) at Rio de Janeiro.

Ross, who turned professional in 2006 and won AVP Rookie of the Year honors, is currently wrapping up her final season on the AVP tour, which ends Nov. 2-3 in Dallas. The league championship will be held Nov. 9-10 in Los Angeles.

"I didn't want to leave the sport just by fading away," Ross told NBC Sports. "I wanted to play again, if only to retire. Essentially, that's what this season has turned out to be, kind of like a farewell tour."

Ross got married on Sept. 14 and also was named beach volleyball coach at El Camino (Community) College on Sept. 27 in the Los Angeles area.

Ross won the Honda Award for being the top women's volleyball in 2004 while starring for Southern California.