Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, April Ross: Rise and conquer

Barry Faulkner

April Ross rules Southern California high school girls volleyball.

Ask anyone.

The Newport Harbor High senior’s supreme sovereignty, however, hasn’t

earned her any slack from demanding coach Dan Glenn, whose ability to

prod his two-time defending CIF Southern Section Division I-AA champions

toward perfection is alternately a blessing and a bother to his players.

Ross, in fact, was benched during a recent Sea View League match, as

Glenn delivered a message that no one is above sweating the details.

“She’s very competitive and she has a great feel for the game,” said

Glenn, who while, at times, critical, is among the 6-foot-1 standout’s

most fervent supporters. “She does a lot of things, does a lot of things

well and she’s had a pretty dominant senior year. But there are still

some things she needs to improve on.”

Glenn doesn’t question his versatile superstar’s work ethic or her

talent. But, as with all seniors, particularly those with CIF Southern

Section Division I Co-Player of the Year credentials (which Ross earned

last fall), he refuses to accept anything less than peak performance.

“I think of her as a glider,” Glenn said. “Watching April play is like

watching Jerry Rice run. Sometimes it doesn’t look like he’s running very

fast, but he’s always open. April is so smooth and she’s quick as a cat

at the net. But, sometimes, it doesn’t look like she’s giving 100%

mentally and that’s when I get on her. When I get on some girls,

especially the seniors who have listened to me for four years, they

sometimes tune me out. And when they tune me out, I put them on the bench

to get their attention.”

Ross admits practice isn’t always her favorite place to be and she is

frustrated, at times, by Glenn’s uncompromising expectations.

But, frankly, when domination becomes routine, particularly in a Sea View

League diluted by releaguing, it’s not easy to be dialed in every match.

With the postseason looming, however, Ross showed in last weekend’s Santa

Barbara Tournament of Champions why USC believes it got one of the best,

if not o7 thef7 best, prep recruits in the nation.

“When it comes playoff time, there’s another switch she turns on,” Glenn

said. “When there’s a big match, April is always ready to rise to the

occasion.”

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week did just that in Santa Barbara,

pounding 23 kills in a three-game sweep of Bullard High from Fresno in

the semifinals. She then added 27 kills and, with the Tars trailing, 2-1,

after three games, stepped in at setter to help pull out an 8-15, 16-14,

11-15, 15-5, 15-12 title-match triumph over St. Francis High of Mountain

View.

She was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, a distinction with

which she has become familiar.

In addition to her CIF Co-MVP laurels last fall, she shared top

individual honors with in the Sea View League and Newport-Mesa District.

A two-time first-team All-CIF performer, she has also helped the Tars to

four Sea View League titles (38-0 during that span), two section crowns

and last year’s CIF State Division I championship. This year, the Tars

are 27-2 heading into Friday’s regular-season finale against Corona del

Mar. They’re ranked No. 1 in the section (Division I-AA), No. 1 in Orange

County and No. 2 in CIF State Division I.

Her talents aren’t limited to volleyball. She was also the Newport-Mesa

Co-Player of the Year and a two-time all-league performer in basketball,

though she said she will not play as a senior.

In track and field, where she scores points in numerous jumping events,

she won a Division II section high jump crown and advanced to the state

meet as a freshman.

The four-year Orange County Volleyball Club veteran, who has played

middle blocker, outside hitter and setter at various times, said she

enjoys contributing to her team’s success, especially at this time of the

year.

“I don’t play volleyball to win awards,” she said. “I play to be on a

team and to win. I’m very competitive. I’m looking forward to the

playoffs. Like any senior, I want to go out by winning a (section)

championship and possibly state. I think we really came together as a

team in Santa Barbara and, hopefully, we’ll play well in the playoffs.”

Glenn said her ability to set has helped the Tars overcome the loss of

four-year floor leader Jennifer Carey (now starting at Hawaii).

“(Ross) is such a good setter, she gives me that option,” Glenn said.

“When we’re not playing well, I can have April set when she’s in the back

row and still hit when she’s in the front row. She’s similar to Misty May

(a former Sailor who was twice NCAA Player of the Year at Long Beach

State) in that she can play all the positions and play them well. She’s a

college coach’s dream, because she’s really four players in one. When she

goes to USC and gets five other real good players around her, she’s going

to dominate.”

But then why should college be any different.