Reno Says Retirement Planned at Season’s End

A year from now, when Nancy Reno is sitting on the porch of her dream home in Colorado, she might reflect on what happened at the Santa Monica Open.

The 12-year pro beach volleyball veteran, who said Sunday she will retire after this season, might even chuckle at the part she played at the second stop of the newly-created Beach Volleyball America women’s tour.

Then again, maybe not.

Reno, a fierce competitor who will retire because of a nagging shoulder injury, and her partner, Linda Hanley, couldn’t hang on to a decisive lead in the championship and lost to Jenny Johnson Jordan and Annett Davis, 15-13.

Johnson Jordan and Davis will split $15,000. Reno and Hanley will split $10,500.

Reno and Hanley, seeded fourth, held a 13-8 edge, but failed to score the rest of the way against second-seeded Johnson Jordan and Davis, who engineered their second consecutive comeback and won their first title this season.

Johnson Jordan and Davis trailed Liz Masakayan and Elaine Youngs in the semifinals, 12-5, before scoring 10 of the next 11 points and continuing their climb up a relatively short ladder of success.

Three years ago, Johnson Jordan and Davis debuted as a team in a tournament at Miami. More attuned to playing on the four-person circuit, they were hardly impressive in doubles. They finished 25th . . . dead last.

Last year, they were the winningest U.S. women’s team and they are currently third in the world in Olympic qualifying points, second in the U.S. to Masakayan-Youngs.

“We’re pretty happy with how far we’ve come in a short time,” said Johnson Jordan, the daughter of former Olympic decathlete Rafer Johnson.

Reno, 34, has won 30 titles and nearly $475,000. She finished fifth at the 1996 Olympics with former partner Holly McPeak.

Reno’s right shoulder has deteriorated to the point that she can’t practice at full strength. She rarely jump serves and relies less on power than placement shots.

“It’s definitely the right time to stop,” said Reno, who plans to move to Durango, Colo., build a home and work as a field biologist. “I’m tired of playing in pain . . . .

“I feel totally complete about my career. I want to win some events this year, but I’m ready to move on.”