Ross / Pavlik win AVP Austin Open

April Ross and Whitney Pavlik (#2 Seeds) defeated Kim Dicello and Emily Stockman (#3 Seeds) 2-1 (14-21, 21-16, 15-11) to win the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Austin Open on Sunday. It was the first victory for Ross since splitting with 2016 Olympic bronze medal teammate Kerri Walsh Jennings in April. 

Previously, Ross won the Silver Metal in the 2012 London Olympics playing with Jennifer Kessy.  The team defeated Brazil’s #1 seed team of Juliana and Lariss.  And she won the Bronze Metal in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro with Kerri Walsh, defeating the #1 seed Brazil team
of Larissa and Talita.

Ross plans on playing with Lauren Fendrickfor the rest of the AVP and international season, beginning at the FIVB World Tour event in Moscow in early June.  Ross teamed with Pavlik in Austin because Fendrick was playing at the FIVB World Tour event in Rio.  Longtime friends Ross and Pavlik placed third earlier this month at the Huntington Beach Open. 

Pavlik played with Kerri Walsh in 2013 and won Manhattan Beach when it was part of the AVP Tour.  Pavlik was named 2008 AVP Rookie of the Year after placing in the top 10 in 10 out of 15 tournaments in which she competed.  

 Andy Nietupski (anietupski@ttlsports.com)