April 6, 2009
STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford senior driver Kira Hillman, of the top-ranked women's water polo team, was named MPSF Mikasa Player of the Week Monday, the conference announced. The honor marks the second time that a Cardinal player has been honored with the weekly award.
Hillman shared the honor with California's Camille Hewko.
On Senior Night this past Friday, Hillman capped her home career by scoring a pair of goals in Stanford's (21-1, 5-0 MPSF) gritty 9-8 victory over No. 3 UCLA, which had previously been unbeaten in conference play.
Hillman's first goal of the contest, early in the second period, opened Stanford's scoring and began the Cardinal's comeback from an early 2-0 deficit. Later on, with just 55 seconds remaining in the contest and the Cardinal clinging to an 8-7 lead, Hillman bookended Stanford's scoring for the day with the eventual game-winner, giving Stanford a 9-7 advantage that it did not relinquish.
On the year, Hillman has scored 22 goals for Stanford, her third straight 20-goal season.
The honor is the first of Hillman's career and the second for Stanford this season. The previous occasion came on Feb. 23 when freshman Melissa Seidemann took home the honor.