Hermosa Beach local Alix Klineman heads to Olympics beach volleyball semifinals in Tokyo

The American A-team of Klineman, 31, and April Ross, 39, defeated the German team of Laura Ludwig and Margareta Kozuch on Aug. 2 at Shiokaze Park in two sets, 21-19, 21-19. They will play the Swiss team of Anouk Vergé-Depré and Joana Heidrich in the semifinal on Aug. 4. Klineman and Ross are potentially two victories away from a gold medal.

Although the 6 foot 5 Klineman doesn’t identify as Jewish, her father, Mike Klineman, is.

“I’m very proud of her and very excited for her,” he said. “It’s an unbelievable achievement and she has worked so hard to get here. I used to kid with her that the only one more determined and competitive than her was (the late) Kobe Bryant.”

Because families were unable to travel to Tokyo, Klineman’s family has been cheering her on during her matches via watch parties in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Mar Vista.

Manhattan Beach, Mike said, is where his daughter grew up and is the place for professional volleyball, so it made sense that all three Klineman children played volleyball at the collegiate level.

Klineman made the switch from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball in 2017. This is her first time competing in the Olympics. Klineman and Ross’s semifinal match against the Swiss team will take place Aug. 4 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time (Aug. 5 at 9 a.m. Tokyo Time).