Ross set for Rio

Costa Mesa resident April Ross and her beach volleyball partner, Kerri Walsh Jennings, met the last major standard for qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday.

By beginning play in the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals Cincinnati Open on Wednesday, the duo reached the minimum of 12 tournaments required to qualify.

The Americans are No. 6 on the Federation International de Volleyball points list used to determine the bulk of the Olympic field, but an injury to Walsh Jennings’ shoulder last fall raised doubts about whether they would be able to play in 12 events. There are two more events left on the international tour schedule before qualification closes in mid-June.

Walsh Jennings won three gold medals with Newport Harbor High product Misty May-Treanor, who has retired. Ross, who also played at Newport Harbor, and partner Jen Kessy lost to May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings in the Olympic final in London four years ago.

— From staff reports