Ross beach MVP

Costa Mesa resident April Ross was named Most Valuable Player on the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals women’s beach tour for the third straight season at an awards banquet on Wednesday.

The Newport Harbor High product, who made AVP history by winning tournaments with three different partners in 2015, was also named the tour’s best women’s server for the second straight season.

Ross won four AVP titles in 2015 and has won 11 of the 12 AVP events in which she has competed the last two seasons. She opened the year with usual partner Kerri Walsh Jennings, with whom she won the AVP New Orleans Open.

When Walsh Jennings was sidelined by a shoulder injury, Ross paired with Costa Mesa resident Jennifer Fopma to produce victories in Seattle and Manhattan Beach. Playing with Lauren Fendrick, Ross claimed the crown at the season-ending Huntington Beach event.

Ross, 33, had 76 aces, eight more than the runner-up, despite playing in 10 fewer games. It was the third time in her career that she had earned the Best Server award.

Also considered one of the world’s top defenders, her 331 digs ranked third among AVP players.

Because Ross had revolving partners, the Team of the Year trophy went to Nicole Branaugh and Jenny Kroop.

Ross, a silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics in London, is expected to rejoin Walsh Jennings to pursue a gold medal at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

— Barry Faulkner