Hitting you with an area spell doesn't count IF they are already targeting someone.

Multiple attackers can be targeting a single person (ie, you can be getting gang-raped), but an attacker can't target more than one person in melee at a time. In order to "hit" an attacker, they must be directing their melee at you.

If I'm hitting the imperial assassin in melee while I spam nova (which happens to hit you), you can't "hit" me.