Smith Finds a Place in the Sun

Nobody booed, no objects were thrown and with the exception of a lone heckler, Sinjin Smith’s return to the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals was the way he wanted it--quietly productive.

Smith and partner Carl Henkel salvaged a rough start Saturday in the AVP Hermosa Beach Open and won their next three matches to stay alive for the second part of the tournament today.

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 May 31 by sports agent Leonard Armato, who used to represent Smith.

Smith, 44, looked spry and youthful in a 21-16, 18-21, 15-12 upset of No. 2-seeded Canyon Ceman and Mike Whitmarsh in the third round of the loser’s bracket.

“It’s really great to see all the people that saw me play 20-some-odd years ago,” Smith said. “It’s also a good thing to see people rooting for hometown players and against me. It kind of fires me up.”

Smith and Henkel play today against Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana, also making a return of sorts to the AVP.

The Sydney gold medalists left the AVP after several disputes regarding Olympic qualifying but signed with Armato when their other option--the year-old Beach Volleyball America tour--folded two weeks ago.

Blanton and Fonoimoana’s day wasn’t seamless--Kevin Wong and Stein Metzger beat them in the third round of the winner’s bracket, 17-21, 21-17, 15-12, sending them into the loser’s bracket.

Blanton and Fonoimoana got behind early in the third game and with rally-scoring matches now in place, were in trouble.

“No room for comebacks,” Fonoimoana said.

In a day of upsets, Dax Holdren and Todd Rogers were the only undefeated team among the top five.

The top-seeded duo advanced to the fourth round with a 19-21, 21-16, 15-12, victory over Brent Doble and Matt Lyles.

Holly McPeak and Lisa Arce, former teammates at Mira Costa High, advanced to the women’s semifinals with a 21-14, 23-21 victory over Diane DeNecochea and Wendy Stammer.

McPeak and Arce split after winning 14 tournaments in 1996 and 1997, but are back together after McPeak and Misty May went separate ways earlier this year.

Barbra Fontana and Elaine Youngs also advanced to today’s semifinals.