At Age 44, Smith Draws Line in Sand

Sinjin Smith, one of the top players and most recognizable names in volleyball history, will retire in two weeks after the Manhattan Beach Open.

Smith, 44, won two national titles at UCLA and parlayed his indoor talents into international fame and fortune as a pro beach volleyball player.

Smith, who has had six surgeries on his right knee, has won 139 career beach volleyball tournaments, second only to archrival Karch Kiraly (142). “He doesn’t want to quit, but he knows it’s time,” said his wife, Patty.

A resident of Pacific Palisades, Smith finished 17th with partner Carl Henkel at a tournament Friday in Belgium. He was unavailable for comment.

Smith and former partner Randy Stoklos won 113 tournaments from 1982-93, making them the most successful team in beach volleyball history.

“He was an incredible example of a paradigm beach volleyball player from the traditional days when the typical match lasted three-and-a-half hours,” said Leonard Armato, chief executive officer of the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals and Smith’s former agent. “Everyone has to pay tribute to him.”

Smith’s top finish this year was fifth place with Henkel at Clearwater Beach, Fla., in April. He has won $19,788 this year.

Smith, ostracized by the AVP and several fans for choosing to play solely on the international tour since 1994, was brought back to the domestic tour when it was purchased in May by Armato.

“It’s really great to see all the people that saw me play 20-some-odd years ago,” Smith said in June at the Hermosa Beach Open.

The Manhattan Beach Open is Aug. 24-26. Smith has won it five times dating to 1979.

Smith was an All-American at UCLA in 1978 and 1979 and played for national championship teams in 1976 and 1979. In 1991, he became the first volleyball player inducted into UCLA’s athletic hall of fame.

In 1996, Smith played in one of the top beach volleyball matches in history, losing with Henkel to Kiraly and Kent Steffes, 17-15, in a qualifying round of the Atlanta Olympics. Kiraly and Steffes went on to win the gold medal.

Kiraly, Smith’s teammate at UCLA and former beach partner, was surprised by Smith’s decision to retire.

“Sinjin still seems to be playing pretty well and getting some decent finishes,” said Kiraly, 40, who won 21 beach tournaments with Smith before they split in ’84.