Ross wins gold in Norway

April Ross, a former Newport Harbor High standout, and Jen Kessy posed for photos with Viking swords after winning the FIVB Grand Slam Stavanger in beach volleyball Saturday.

Ross and Kessy, the No. 3 seeded team, beat the No. 13-seeded team of Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig of Germany, 21-16, 21-15, using just 40 minutes.

The semifinal proved to be more of a challenge for Ross and Kessy. They dropped the first set, 27-25, to the No. 6-seeded team of Sanne Keizer and Marleen Van Iersel of the Netherlands earlier in the day. But Ross and Kessy battled back to win the next two sets, 21-11, 15-11. They ended the tournament with a 7-0 record and their only set loss came in the semifinals.

Stavanger, Norway has been kind on the duo. They won there in 2007, and in 2009, they won the World Championships there. In 2008, they had a bronze.

Ross and Kessy have now won nine career FIVB gold medals.

Misty May-Treanor, also a former Newport Harbor High star, and Kerri Walsh, who won the World Championships, were ousted in the quarterfinals Friday.

— From staff reports