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Friday, September 1, 2000
The two faces When you think of Yorba Linda, Calif., you might think of Richard Nixon.
of Jessica Sudduth
Off the court, she chills;
on the court, she takes on
the personality of a SpartanBy Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinHe was born there. His presidential library is there.
University of Hawaii Wahine left side hitter Jessica Sudduth is also from Yorba Linda. Born in 1979, five years after Nixon became the only president to resign from office, she's checked out his library museum and pronounced it "cool."
But Sudduth can tell you one thing. She and the 37th president wouldn't have much in common.
There's an old story that Nixon once voiced disapproval of Associated Press reporter Helen Thomas wearing pants in the White House.
Sudduth said she's sure he'd be appalled at the nose pin she wears on her right nostril.
"I would be way too liberal for that guy," she said with a laugh.
"If I worked for him he'd say, 'Jessica, you're so fired.' "
The 6-foot-2 Sudduth calls herself the "total image" of a "go-with-the-flow, do-your-own-thing, free spirit."
You could find her kicking back on a lazy day reading a Sidney Sheldon novel.
"I love Sidney Sheldon," Sudduth said. "My mom's read like every single one of his books and I just read them as she goes."
But this two-time All-Western Athletic Conference player has two personalities.
Put her near text books or the volleyball net, and she takes on the personality of a Spartan.
She's had to function as student and athlete with the lingering discomfort of total reconstructive surgery to her right thumb after the 1998 season.
Add to that a nagging right wrist injury for which she's received a cortisone shot this year.
"I'm very disciplined with my school work, because it means a lot to me, and with my volleyball," said Sudduth. "Some people want to depict me as a flower girl, but that's totally not me."
Sudduth maintains a high GPA as a communications major, and her 307 kills last year were committed with deadly intent.
"There's a reason they're (opponents) on the other side of the net and that's to be beaten," she said soberly.
"It's me or you that's gonna fail, and it's gonna be you."
Like many outstanding competitors in sport, Sudduth is capable of transforming into a game monster.
She doesn't quite understand it herself.
"For sure. I'm two different people. I don't know if that's good."
When she's off the court, she's padding around campus in rubber slippers and button-downs from the Gap, where she worked this summer.
"When I'm off the court, I'm sort of like, chill, whatever, laugh," Sudduth said. But when she steps into the Stan Sheriff Center, she might as well be wearing paratrooper boots and fatigues.
"I'm super intense," she admits.
Like she was Sept. 12, 1999, when she had five service aces against Nevada.
Like she was four days later against Long Beach State when she put down 19 kills (the third 19-kill game of her career).
Like she was Oct. 29, 1999, when she had a whopping 58 total attempts against San Jose State.
Like she was when she hit .769 on Dec. 2, 1999, against Prairie View A&M.
How about those 23 digs at Stanford on Nov. 23, 1997?
And if there was any doubt as to Sudduth's attitude her senior season, dig this:
She stayed in town this summer instead of going home to enjoy vacation with family and friends in Yorba Linda.
"I wanted to stay here and just get stronger," she said. "I lifted weights and ran. It's just not the same when you go home and work out at a club."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
