Alabama-Huntsville is 550 miles away, but there's no place closer than home for Anna LeDuc.
The Bentonville senior made the NCAA Division II school her choice when she signed her volleyball national letter of intent Thursday inside Tiger Arena. Her father, Tim, also attended that Alabama-Huntsville, where he was on a national championship rowing team and is in the Hall of Honor there.
"I have a lot of ties to the Huntsville area," LeDuc said. "Almost all of my family lives there, and it just felt like home when I went there. I hope to win a national title there in the next four years, and I'm excited about that. I'm excited to get back into the gym and connect with everyone there."
LeDuc, a 5-foot-11 outside hitter and the NWA Media volleyball player of the year for 2013, was chosen as the most outstanding player in the Class 7A state tournament and was a vital part of Bentonville's Class 7A state championship team. She finished the season with 474 kills -- good for second place on the team -- as well as 366 digs, 53 total blocks and 46 aces.
She is scheduled to play in the upcoming All-Star volleyball game in Conway.
-- Henry Apple • @NWAHenry
Sports on 04/17/2015