Smith and Stoklos Rally in Volleyball

Sinjin Smith and Randy Stoklos came back from the losers’ bracket Sunday to win the $150,000 Miller Lite beach volleyball tournament at Hermosa Beach, defeating rivals Mike Dodd and Tim Hovland twice, 15-9, 15-10.

Smith and Stoklos, the tournament’s No. 1-seeded team, had lost to No. 2 Dodd and Hovland, 15-7, in the winners’ bracket final. But they defeated Dan Vrebalovich and John Hanley, 15-8, to gain a rematch for the championship against Dodd and Hovland in the double elimination tournament. They earned $37,500 for the victory.

“I think the difference in the match was that Mike (Dodd) got a little tired,” Stoklos said. “At first Mike was shooting over and blocking very well. He wasn’t doing that at the end.”

In the first game Smith argued with the referee and received a warning. He also argued with Stoklos, his frustration showing.

“They (Dodd and Hovland) were controlling the tempo of the game, and they were taking too much time between every rally,” Smith said. “All I wanted was to be treated the same and have the same amount of time (between rallies) as they did. The ref wouldn’t take control of the situation so I did.”