MCHS: 2020 Volleyball Olympian Alex Klineman

by Paul Teetor

Editor’s note: Mira Costa graduate Alix Klineman (Class of 2007) and partner April Ross won the Gold Medal in beach volleyball at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Last June, Klineman had a baby, and in June Ross had a baby. Following the birth of her child, Klineman switched partners in a failed attempt to qualify for the Paris Olympics. She missed almost half of 2024 qualifying tournaments while on maternity leave. Klineman recently told NBC News, “So I’m leaving the door open (for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.). I’ll see if I have the desire to go for it, and how family life is going.” The following story is reprinted from Easy Reader August 2021.

Last week in Tokyo, Alix Klineman became Manhattan Beach’s fifth beach volleyball medalist, and its third gold medalist.

Her gold medal was the culmination of a three-year partnership with April Ross, who had won silver in London, in 2012 with Jennifer Kessey, in addition to her bronze with Kerry Walsh-Jennings on 2016.

The usually stoic Klineman allowed her emotions to spill over in front of a global audience as she sobbed visibly and wiped away tears of joy.

The A-team beat Australia’s Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar 21-15, 21-16 in a rout that capped their undefeated march through the Olympic field.

Klineman made the key play in the second set after the Australians had mounted a mini-comeback,  to 16-13, and appeared to have the momentum. Ross dove for a beautiful dig to set up Klineman for one of her patented cross-court kill shots that landed cleanly in the sand just inside the sideline.

From there it was a quick ride to the finish line.

For Klineman, it was a full expression of the world-class talent she had displayed all the way back in high school.

Klineman and Ross are expected to reunite at the Manhattan Beach Open, on the weekend of August 20. ER