LONG BEACH — The beach volleyball community is still abuzz about the recent announcement that April Ross would replace Misty May-Treanor as the next partner for three-time Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh Jennings.
But though Ross played a Federation International de Volleyball Grand Slam event with Walsh-Jennings earlier this month in Switzerland (they were eliminated in the round of 16), Ross remains linked with Jennifer Kessy until later this season, when she will team with Walsh Jennings for the final two Assn. of Volleyball Professionals events, as well as the last two FIVB Grand Slam events.
But the 2012 Olympic silver medalists, seeded No. 1 in the World Series of Beach Volleyball FIVB Grand Slam event at Marina Green Park, created some buzz of their own by losing their second pool-play match on Tuesday.
"It was surprising, but after the way we played, it's not surprising," Ross said of the 21-19, 21-15 loss to No. 11-seeded Swiss team of Isabelle Forrer and Anouk Verge-Depre.