April Ross takes her shot

Steve Virgen

The winces of pain have been replaced by smiles of joy. And, now

regret can be replaced by the ultimate celebration.

Today, April Ross, a Newport Harbor High product and USC’s junior

star outside hitter, has an opportunity to reach the highest of peaks

in women’s college volleyball. Ross and the Trojans will face

defending national champion Stanford in the NCAA title match today in

New Orleans.

Last year, Ross experienced difficult times on and off the court.

Her 2001 season began with a death of a loved one. Margie, April’s

mother, died of breast cancer in late August. Three days later, Ross

played for USC in its season-opener against UC Irvine.

She did not comment about her feelings that night, but her father,

Glen, said April played because that’s what mom would want her to do.

“She’s obviously always in the back of my mind while I’m playing,”

Ross said in a phone interview while in New Orleans. “I think about

how she would be proud of the way I have been playing. Sometimes I

think she is watching me.”

Ross’ 2001 season ended like a hard pill to swallow. In the final

of the NCAA West Regional, Ross sprained her ankle. It was a severe

sprain that ended her season and her opportunity to help her team to

the Final Four.

But, in 2002, Ross would not let injury stop her.

This season, throughout USC’s remarkable run to the Final Four she

has been a key player, despite still recovering from her injury.

While searching for total security on her ankle, Ross earned

first-team All-Pac-10 honors. She also was named the West Regional

Most Valuable Player, as she guided the top-ranked Trojans into the

Final Four.

“I think she’s getting pretty close to playing at 100%,” USC Coach Mick Haley said. “It’s taken a long time to get that healed. I think

by her own admission, she would say she is not 100%, but it gets

better every month.”

Despite the nagging pain, Ross has continued to play and at a high

level, mainly because of her determination of providing USC with a

national championship.

“This year she seems to be on a mission,” Haley said. “She’s

wanted to play in the Final Four this year. She really longed for

that opportunity. She really focused on getting back this year.”

Ross has been able to will her way to the Final Four mainly

because the lessons she learned at Newport Harbor, Ross said. In

1998, Ross helped lead the Sailors to a CIF State championship and

along the way she received a valuable asset that she continues to

display today.

“Playing at Newport taught me how to work hard,” said Ross, who is

known for her competitive fervor. “I learned that you can’t breeze

through games, you always have to work hard, that’s what Dan Glenn

hammered to me. I definitely still have that with me today.”

Glenn, who coached Newport Harbor to the state title and continues

to instill values as the head man of the Sailors, remembers Ross as,

“one of the most competitive people I have ever coached.” Glenn has

followed Ross’ career at USC and has remained close to her and her

family. He was there when Ross sent down with the injury last year

and he watched her when the Trojans advanced to the Final Four at UC

Santa Barbara this season.

“I’m really excited for them (Ross and Jennifer Carey of Hawaii)

to be in the Final Four this year,” Glenn said. “It’s been fun to

watch (Ross’) development. Every year she has just gotten better.

She’s extremely smart.

She really understands the game. She’s able to mix it up and

she’ll always bring a lot of heat.”

Today, against the Cardinal, Ross will assuredly bring heat along

with the emotion she has carried with her throughout her time at USC,

although she’s not thinking about the past.

“I don’t think about anything from this year to this year,” Ross

said. “I think the fact that we didn’t finish where we wanted to last

year has been motivation for us. My team has been playing amazing.

The fear of getting injured, I really don’t have that. That really

doesn’t affect me.”