The
Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, Ind.) volleyball team played in one match this season that went to five sets in a season with little back-to-the-wall adversity.
But when the chips were down in that Class 4A finals against Castle (Newburgh, Ind.), head coach Jason Young said senior outside hitter
Lauren Harden did what leaders do: steadied the troops.
Hamilton Southeastern had just lost the second set 26-24 and was in danger of seeing its dream season unravel.
"We were up 24-21 and kind of blew it," Young said. "That was pivotal because she was the one who spoke up (in the huddle) and when she did, they listened.
"When you see your leader is calm, that speaks volumes."
Harden would steady the team, just as she'd done two matches earlier in a five-set win over Homestead (Fort Wayne, Ind.) when she tallied five kills in the 15-7 set victory. The Royals beat Homestead in the regionals, LaPorte at semi-state and then Castle to claim their second straight state title and cap the year 33-0 with a 67-match win streak. Harden, who finished the year with 371 kills, is the 2023 MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
"We only lost five sets all season and when we needed her most, she delivered," Young said. "In moments of crisis, she would shine and there was no panic in going five with Homestead."
Harden is a multi-year MaxPreps All-American who finished her career with more than 1,000 kills and is headed to play at the University of Florida next season.
While Harden's stats are impressive, Young said her leadership rises above statistics.
"We have a lot of mouths to feed," Young said about his team with seven Division I-committed athletes that includes Harden,
Macy Hinshaw,
Sophie Ledbetter,
Lindsey Mangelson,
Tiffany Snook,
Breonna Goss and
Ava Hunter. "They did an unbelievable job of not being selfish and the stats don't reflect the quality of the player."
He said the emergence of junior hitter Mangelson (358 kills) made the Royals tougher to defend.
Lauren Harden of Hamilton Southeastern is the MaxPreps National Player of the Year after leading the Royals to a 33-0 season, Class 4A state title and No. 3 national ranking. (Photo: Julie L. Brown)
Harden's team-first attitude wasn't about stats but winning. That was exemplified last season when Harden made the switch from outside to the right side specifically to combat McCutcheon (Lafayette) hitter Chloe Chicoine, a MaxPreps All-American.
The Royals lost their opening match in 2022 to McCutcheon before winning the title with a postseason run that included wins over the Mavericks and perennial power Yorktown in the final.
"Our big target was to beat Chloe and our path would be McCutcheon," Young said. "I put Lauren on the right side in order to stop Chloe. I phrased it ‘I want best on best' and they're not going to move Chloe.
"From a standpoint of embracing the challenge, she became a better blocker and is now an elite blocker."
Harden's leadership and example to the younger players will be her legacy as much as the two titles.
"We never talked about state or running the table, but staying true to the core and having fun," Young said. "She competes the right way. She's part of the Blue Crew at school and embraces the whole school spirit. Lauren has left a tradition and legacy."
Past MaxPreps National Players of the Year2008 — Lauren Cook, Pius X (Lincoln, Neb.)
2009 — Rachel Williams, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.)
2010 — Tiffany Baker, Hebron (Carrollton, Texas)
2011 — Nicole Dalton, Chaparral (Parker, Colo.)
2012 — Amber Rolfzen/Kadie Rolfzen, Papillion LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)
2013 — Courtney Eckenrode, The Woodlands (Texas)
2014 — Alexis Smith, Lewis-Palmer (Monument, Colo.)
2015 — Nicole Peterson, Jesuit (Portland, Ore.)
2016 — Lexi Sun, Santa Fe Christian (Solana Beach, Calif.)
2017 — Erin O'Leary, Novi (Mich.)
2018 — Kenzie Knuckles, Yorktown (Ind.)
2019 — Paige Flickinger, Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas)
2020 — No award due to pandemic
2021 — Elia Rubin, Marymount (Los Angeles)
2022 — Julia Blyashov, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego)
Flanked here by parents Lawrence and Christi along with Hamilton Southeastern coach Jason Young (right), Harden pounded 371 kills this season. (Photo: Kent Graham)
