As a Freshman (2003)
Appeared in 51 games in 19 matches … started nine matches on the right side … recorded 40 kills and 33 blocks (all block assists) in limited action … had a season-high six kills in the team’s victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (9/11) … posted a season-high 15 attacks in the first match of the season – against St. Mary’s (California) on Aug. 29 … had a 1.000 hitting percentage with five kills on five attacks in the team’s Big 12 opener, a 3-0 victory at Oklahoma (9/24) … also was perfect at the net with a 1.000 attack percentage at Colorado (10/4) … three times during the season recorded four blocks: at Long Beach State (8/30), vs. Nicholls State (9/5) and at OU … collected a season-high three digs at Iowa State (11/2) … was the team’s most improved player during the squad’s European Tour in May, averaging 4.0 kills per match and 4.0 blocks per match as the opposite hitter.

Before Texas
A 2003 Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 recruit … Selected to the A2 USA Junior National Team as a junior… played for Tonya Kern-Honea at Kennesaw Mountain for three seasons and Kay Gower at Harrison High School … an all-state and all-county pick as a senior … three -year winner of the Wall Award for most blocks … became the first volleyball player from Kennesaw Mountain to receive a Division I scholarship … played club volleyball for Bob Westbrook and the Atlanta Jrs. … in 2003, the Jrs. took third at the Disney Classic and fifth at the Tampa Bay Qualifier … participated in Beta Club, National Honor Society, Main Link Student Leadership and dance team at Kennesaw Mountain … received academic awards for highest algebra II GPA, outstanding achievement in wind ensemble and hardest worker for physics and Spanish III

Personal
Full name is Jessica Marie Curtis … born on July 1, 1985 in Houston, Texas … daughter of Cedric and Yvone Curtis … is an only child … is a liberal arts major … her twin cousins, Jarron and Jason Collins, played basketball at Stanford from 1998-2001 … both were drafted in the 2001 NBA Draft and have played three seasons in the league: Jason was a first-round pick (18th overall) by the Houston Rockets then traded to the New Jersey Nets while Jarron was a second-round pick (53rd overall) by the Utah Jazz … attended Harrison High School before Kennesaw Mountain … jumps to a 10-7 reach.

The Curtis File
Full name: Jessica Marie Curtis
Nickname(s): Curtis
Birthday (Birthplace): July 1, 1985 (Houston, Texas)
Your Planned Major: advertising
Career Plans/Goals: to become a marketing director
Hobbies/Interests: jewelry making
Favorite Food: fettuccini alfredo
Favorite musical group or artist(s): Mariah Carey
Favorite TV shows: Fresh Prince of Bellaire, Smallville
Favorite book: The Color Purple
Favorite magazine: Cosmopolitan
My favorite place to eat is: Carrabba’s
If I had one CD to listen to it would be: a mix that I put together
Person in history I’d most like to meet (either living or deceased): Martin Luther King, Jr.
My sports heroes are: Michael Jordan, Gabriella Reese
Craziest ambition -- what have you always wanted to do but were never able to?: sky dive
How did you get started playing volleyball & at what age?: my physical education teacher got me to play when I was in the eighth grade
When you played sports as a kid, who did you pretend to be?: no one
What are some of the "valuable life lessons" that you’ve learned from playing sports?: when you participate in sports, you get involved in so much more than others who don’t play sports
The people who have had the most influence on my athletic career are: my mom, my high school coach and my club coach
If I could bring anything from my hometown to the UT campus this fall, it would be: all of my Atlanta gear
The characteristics which describe me best on the court: enthusiastic, loud, determined
The characteristics which best describe me off the court: fun, loud, energetic
What part of your game would you most like to improve: my back row defense
I’d like to switch places for a day with (anyone, living or deceased): Gabby Reese
My superstitions include: looking at a black crow
If I could have an ESPN SportsCenter highlight, I would want it to be: filming us at a typical UT practice
My most memorable sports moment or biggest sports thrill to date is: during the high school state playoffs when my team defeated the No. 2-ranked team in the state
What I like the most about Texas Volleyball "tradition" is: the amount of spirit and dedication everyone has to making our team – and the game - better
When I hear "Burnt Orange & White", to me it means: Pride!
I came to The University of Texas because: I fell in love with everything about the campus, team and coaches