BEACH VOLLEYBALL / WOMEN AT LONG BEACH : Reno, McPeak Thrive During Day of Upsets

Trouble ahead, trouble behind, but Nancy Reno and Holly McPeak were like a steady train in the second round of the Long Beach Invitational on Saturday at the Promenade.

Two of the top eight teams were knocked out of the Women’s Professional Volleyball Assn. tournament, which is using a single-elimination format for the first time.

But McPeak and Reno, the biggest money-winners on the tour this year with a combined $89,680 and five tournament victories to their credit, made short work of No. 17-seeded Michal Clingman and Bev Lidyoff, 15-5.

In memory of the recent death of her favorite musician, Jerry Garcia, Reno wore a bright tie-dyed shirt, two leather, beaded necklaces and a red peace sign dangling from her ear lobe.

In the day’s upsets, No. 12-seeded Wendy Fletcher and Karrie Poppinga defeated No. 5 Cammy Ciarelli and Barbra Fontana Harris, 15-11, and No. 11 Krista Blomquist and Gayle Stammer defeated No. 6 Deb Richardson and Dennie Shupryt-Knoop, 15-11.

The quarterfinals begin today at 9 a.m. McPeak and Reno play No. 8 Marie Andersson and Elaine Roque at 10 a.m. The final is scheduled for 3 p.m.