Ross, Boss continue success in New Jersey

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. — Something is stirring inside of No. 5 Jennifer Boss and Newport Harbor alumnus April Ross.

Evidently, that’s the sort of effect winning a gold medal at an international tournament can have.

Boss and Ross advanced to today’s semifinals in the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Seaside Heights Open. They upended No. 4 Barbra Fontana and Dianne DeNecochea, 21-13, 21-19, then defeated top-seeded Tyra Turner and Rachel Wacholder 21-16, 21-15.

Their success comes on the heels of a lucrative win in Stavenger, Norway, where Boss and Ross took first place in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball’s ConocoPhillips Grand Slam. The pair split the $43,500 grand prize and became the lowest-seeded women’s team (29th) in FIVB history to win a gold medal.

Mike Lambert of Costa Mesa and Stein Metzger advanced to the final four with a 21-17, 21-12 win over No. 7 John Hyden and Brad Keenan. Keenan and Hyden had upset Jake Gibb, also of Costa Mesa, and Sean Rosenthal 21-19, 21-10 to face Lambert and Metzger. Gibb and Rosenthal came back to win a loser’s bracket match over Karch Kiraly, who is on his retirement tour with the AVP, and Kevin Wong 21-13, 21-16.

— From staff reports