Tokyo Olympic champions April Ross and Alix Klineman plan to play together this spring for the first time since becoming moms last year.
Ross, 41, and Klineman, 34 will start by playing AVP tournaments in their native California in Huntington Beach in May and Manhattan Beach in August, plus a few upcoming international events, a rep for the players said.
There are not enough international tournaments left for Ross and Klineman to bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics with less than three months remaining in the qualifying window that began Jan. 1, 2023.
“The priorities have changed, the goals are different, our focus has widened,” was posted on Ross’ social media. “It’s not about winning gold medals (been there, done that), it’s about simply being out there again, on our own terms. All I know is I haven’t had this much fun playing volley in a LONG time. Simply soaking in every moment.”
Ross, an Olympic medalist of every color, last played a tournament in March 2022 with Emily Capers while Klineman was sidelined after shoulder surgery.
Ross then had her first child last fall.
Klineman had her first child last June, then returned to competition with Hailey Harward in two events in September and October.
