Can't touch this: Harrington Herald-Times's top volleyball player

With Kaiden Harrington, a soft touch could be just as hard to take as a big swing.

The only thing that mattered was getting the ball to the floor on the other side of the net, and she had all kinds of ways to do it this year.

A leader in statistics and a leader in spirit, the junior middle hitter led the Mustangs to 21 wins, their most since 2013. Along the way, she broke the school record for kills in a season (470). By 60. While hitting .364, as 46% of her attacks ended in kills.

"She was the MVP of our team," Edgewood coach Beth May said. "And it showed in every single aspect on the court."

More: Stopping Edgewood's Harrington a tall order on volleyball court

Thus, leaving little doubt that Harrington is the 2021 Herald-Times Volleyball Player of the Year.

It's the first time since 2013 when Edgewood's Ashley Hacker and South's Jacqueline Forney shared the award it has not been exclusively in the hands of a Bloomington South player.

Years in the making for Harrington

It's been a crash course in volleyball since she began playing as a middle schooler. In just three years of high school ball, she's topped the 1,000-kill mark, has over 100 aces and is closing in on 300 blocks and 500 digs.

"Year to year, there's been such a difference," May said. "Coming in freshman year, she came in with some nerves, but she produced all the way around.

"Sophomore year, she showed what she could be. And then going into this year, she showed so much leadership. So was that player that we needed to be a dominant force in every single game."

She had some help in Edgewood's revival this year, surrounded by a strong senior class that wanted to compete and win. After getting tripped up by Brown County early in the season, they went on a 13-match win streak and nearly salvaged a Western Indiana Conference title.

She had double-digit kills in all but two matches (Edgewood won one, lost the other) and at one point had an incredible string of 20 or more kills in five straight outings.

"Any team scouting us knew you had to take Kaden out," May said. "We played several schools who were able to get a block on her sometimes. But Kaiden was able to work around it and run different plays and changing up her shot, making the blockers move.

"That's where her court knowledge and her ability comes in."

Harrington, an Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association All-District pick, has designs on playing college volleyball. She took a big step in that direction with her play this year.

"You can see it on Kaiden's face," May said. "When she makes a great play, when she makes a bad play, she wears her heart on her sleeve. She's determined to put that ball away.

"Where her smarts come in is that she can find a hole, change up her shot. When we're able to get the ball to her, we're able to win those games."

2021 ALL-AREA VOLLEYBALL

FIRST TEAM

JENNA BRINSON, Edgewood, Sr. S: Took over as full-time setter after injury to Adia May and piled up 35 aces, 20 blocks, 257 digs, 727 assists (7.9 per set).

AVA FRANKLIN, Bloomington North, Sr. MH: Productive in every stat category for Cougars with 219 kills while hitting .395. Had 278 digs, 43 aces, 76 blocks. Had 395 kills, 519 digs past two seasons. Repeat All-Conference Indiana. Second Team last year.

LIV GALLAGHER, Bloomington North, Sr. L: In charge of back row again this season, while topping the 1,000-dig mark. Piled up 392 digs and 43 aces. All-CI.

KAIDEN HARRINGTON, Edgewood, Jr. MH: H-T's Player of the Year had a school record 470 kills while hitting .364, to top the 1,000 kill mark for her career. Did it all for Mustangs, gathering 42 aces, 68 blocks (30 solo) and 181 digs. IHSVCA All-District. Repeat First Teamer.

KYLA KANTE, Bloomington North, Sr. OH: Hampered by an ankle injury that limited her play on the back row and kept her off the service line, but still came up with 228 kills while hitting .277, 75 digs and 33 blocks. Finished career with 939 kills. All-CI all four years. All-Area First Team for third time.

OLIVIA SHIELDS, Bloomington South, Sr. MH: Kept up South's tradition of strong middles, carding a team high 181 kills to go with 19 aces and a team best 48 blocks (29 solo). All-CI. Second Team last year.

SECOND TEAM

CADANCE AST, Bloomington South, Jr. OH: Had a better time hitting off the right side this year, finishing with 159 kills, 36 blocks. Repeat Second Teamer.

SOPHIA FRUCHEY, Bloomington North, Sr. OH: Solid final season saw career best 204 kills while hitting .171, 90 digs, 25 aces, 44 blocks. All-CI honorable mention.

TRISTA HELMS, Edgewood, Sr. OH: Stepped up in final season to record 198 kills, 21 aces, 16 blocks and a team high 351 digs.

MOLLY MUNGLE, Bloomington South, Sr. OH: Came back this year to rip 172 kills to go with 20 blocks, 65 digs. All-CI honorable mention. Third time All-Area.

RAINE ROLEN, Bloomington South, Jr. MH: The other half of the Panthers' middle combo had 130 kills, 37 blocks. Second time All-Area.

RILEY WALKER, Bloomington South, Jr. L: Led team in serve receive with just 25 errors in 327 chances. Also had 14 aces and led team with 152 digs. All-CI honorable mention. Second time All-Area.

Honorable mention: Mallorie Elliott, Bloomington North, So. S (372 assists, 110 digs, 31 aces); Avery Freeman, Bloomington North, Fr. DS (178 digs, 55 aces, 40 kills); Grace Morris, Edgewood, Jr. OH (105 kills, 14 aces, 30 blocks, 176 digs, 45 assists); Kenli Sullivan, Eastern Greene, MH Fr.​​​​​​; Paige Washington, Bloomington South, Jr. S (20 aces, 55 digs, 346 assists (4.3 per set); Indy Workman, Eastern Greene, Sr. DS.

Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on Twitter @JimGordillo.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Can't touch this: Harrington Herald-Times's top volleyball player