COMPLETE AMERICA EAST RELEASE

WEST HARTFORD, CT - Freshman outside hitter Dionna Kirton scored the first conference honor of the season for the Hartford volleyball team when she was named the America East Rookie of the Week on Monday. Kirton helped lead the Hawks to the team title at the Kristen Dickmann Memorial Tournament hosted by Navy, while also being named to the All-Tournament team.

The Washington state native finished with double figure kills and double figure digs in the first three matches of the week for the longest double-double streak of the season among all Hawks.

Kirton opened the week with a season-high 16 digs to go along with 11 kills in a four-set win over the CCSU Blue Devils in the home opener at the Reich Family Pavilion. She followed that effort up with 13 kills and 10 digs in a five-set victory over Navy in the opening match of the Kristen Dickmann Memorial Tournament.

She then smacked down 12 kills and finished with a team-best 12 digs in the first of two matches on Saturday. Her double double streak came to an end when she finished with eight kills and seven digs in the final match of the weekend tournament against Howard.

Her 12 kill effort against UMES also saw her week-high hitting percentage of .400 when she suffered just two errors in 25 total attacks. For the season, Kirton is second on the team with 112 kills and a .178 hitting percentage over 55 sets.

The Hawks will play a pair of home matches in the week ahead. They first welcome the Bryant Bulldogs to West Hartford on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., before Sacred Heart takes the trek down interstate 91 for a Thursday night match up (6:00 p.m.).