Akers, Ross win FIVB beach awards

USA Volleyball November 23, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - U.S. beach volleyball players April Ross and Angie Akers received awards from the FIVB following the conclusion of the 2009 SWATCH FIVB World Tour.

Ross (Costa Mesa, Calif.) was named Best Offensive Player and Best Hitter. Akers (Fort Wayne, Ind.) was named co-Rookie of the Year along with Australia's Louise Bawden. U.S. athletes Lauren Fendrick (Carlsbad, Calif.) and Ashley Ivy (Arlington, Texas) both received votes for Rookie of the Year.

Ross and partner Jen Kessy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) won the 2009 FIVB World Championship in Stavanger, Norway along with the SWATCH FIVB World Tour events in Marseille, France and Phuket, Thailand. The team had four second-place finishes and two thirds and finished the season in third place for World Tour ranking points.

Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca of Brazil finished the season as the FIVB ranking points leaders.

Akers and partner Tyra Turner (Fort Myers Beach, Fla.) took one silver medal (Phuket) and one bronze (Sanya, China) in 2009 and finished fifth in ranking points.

Tags: 2009 SWATCH FIVB World Tour, Angie Akers, April Ross , USA Volleyball