Death at Naval Academy mystifies family

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death of a popular star athlete and freshman at the U.S. Naval Academy, exacerbating the grief of stunned friends and relatives.

Kristen Dickmann, 19, a 2007 graduate of Unionville High School in Chester County, was found by her Academy roommates unconscious Monday morning in her bed. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.

An autopsy was inconclusive, her mother said yesterday from the family's Kennett Square home.

"They had no explanation of why a healthy 19-year-old could have died," said Carrie Dickmann, who teaches gifted students at Unionville High.

Kristen was in "outstanding physical shape," said her father, Douglas Dickmann, a pilot for US Airways.

Commander Ed Austin, the Naval Academy's public affairs officer, said he could not estimate when additional information will be released.

"We're still in the review process," he said.

Austin said an officer had been assigned to act as a liaison with the family.

At Unionville High yesterday, counselors assembled at the high school to offer assistance to staff and students.

"She was a role model," said Rob Conti-D'Antonio, Kristen's volleyball coach at the school.

Conti-D'Antonio, also Unionville's dean of student life, said many of Kristen's former teammates became "hysterical" when they learned of her death.

"It was so sudden and so unexpected," he said. "She was so popular and so outstanding."

At the Academy, Kristen Dickmann was a physics major and varsity volleyball player with aspirations to become a Navy pilot.

"She wanted to fly cargo airplanes," her mother said. "She said she wanted to be the Navy's mailman."

Carrie Dickmann said her daughter, who has an older sister and an older brother, recently joked about her first year at Annapolis.

"She said the plebe year wasn't something you're supposed to like, but there was nowhere else she wanted to be," her mother said.

One of only two freshmen on Navy's 2007 volleyball roster, Kristen Dickmann was a stand-out at Unionville, where she played varsity all four years and was All-State player her senior year, her mother said.

"She was a constant athlete," she said. "Always training, wanting to get bigger stronger faster. During her plebe summer, she played touch football with the guys. She would often have to be tackled because she would always stand her ground."

The head coach of the Navy volleyball team said Dickmann was upbeat about both the sport and the academy.

"Even with all the difficulties of plebe year at the Naval Academy, she always found something to smile about," said Mike Schwob. "That says a lot about her personality."

Teammates described her as encouraging, happy and confident.

"She was so positive and so smart," said classmate Jenny Rudewicz. "She loved life and lived every day to it's fullest."

Alyssa Brown, a Unionville senior and volleyball team member, said Kristen had a "silly" side and enjoyed making people laugh but was also "the hardest worker I've ever met."

Carrie Dickmann last spoke with her daughter Sunday night.

"She was fine, joking around," she said. "She was instant-messaging her sister Monday morning. They talked about their plans for the summer. There was no indication she was feeling ill."

Conti-D'Antonio said a memorial service would be held at the high school; however, plans have not yet been completed.