Schaumburg's Young signs with Southern Cal

It's official.

Using the same left hand that walloped 210 kills this season for Schaumburg High School, setter-rightside hitter Emily Young signed her letter of intent on Wednesday indicating that she will play for the University of Southern California's women's volleyball team.

The Daily Herald all-area honorary captain will become the first Mid-Suburban League volleyball player to play for the Women of Troy's prestigious program which won NCAA national titles in 2002 and 2003 under current coach Mick Haley and was third in 2007.

The 6-foot-1 Young, looking even taller while wearing a colorful and large USC top hat won by her friend at a Santa Monica fair, signed the letter at 12:10 p.m. in Principal Tim Little's conference room.

Athletic Director Tim Kirby, and girls volleyball coach Jeanette Pancratz, who won her 600th and 700th matches with Young in the program, were also in the room along with Emily's parents Tim and Margaret.

A cake in the maroon and gold USC colors and a Women of Troy maroon and gold volleyball decorated the room. Margaret presented her daughter with a USC blanket.

“We are definitely looking to be in the running for a national championship my freshman and sophomore years,” said Young, who will be the only Illinois native on the Women of Troy roster. “It depends on what kind of competition there is and how hard we work.”

Young is all about hard work. She ranks in the top 3 percent of her class and is the president of the National Honor Society.

“To see all the work you have put into this since freshman year, and I know you've been working at it much longer than that, we are so proud of you,” Kirby told Young at the signing.

“In terms of your wardrobe, not much has to change,” added Little, referring to the almost identical colors of Schaumburg High School and USC.

Young visited nearly 10 major schools in California, plus a few more in the Midwest. The warm climate certainly made her decision easier.

“I know practicing volleyball for USC will be hard but the sun will always be shining outside,” she said.

And she may be playing under the sun.

“The NCAA is starting sand volleyball in the winter for the 2011-12 season and I really want to try that,” Young said. “I know I'm an Illinois girl so I'm going to have to really work hard to compete at that.”