Smithberger, a center midfielder/defender from Sunbury, Ohio, was a three-year varsity letter winner at Big Walnut High School as she helped her team to a 30-15-7 overall record during that span. She was selected to the Ohio Capital Conference First Team and named Big Walnut’s Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. She also played six years of soccer for Blast FC in addition to playing at Big Walnut.

"The team and I are very excited about Ashley signing with us,” said MVNU head coach Jonathan Meade. "She is a wonderful person who will fit in very well with the team personality and the MVNU atmosphere. She is a solid student and learning in a Christian environment is something she desires. She is very appreciative of her opportunity and I know she will make the most of it.”

"Ashley is a hard worker and an aggressive player,” added Meade. "Through her experience with Blast FC and her high school team, I know that she has the background to transition quickly to the college game. I expect her to compete at center midfield and center back. I am really looking forward to coaching her.”

In addition to playing soccer, Smithberger was a Big Walnut Scholar-Athlete with a 3.33 grade point average. Her NOAA science project was a top-10 finalist in the nation, she has had two poems published in Teachers Anthology, and she has won the Columbus Art Award for Visual Arts. She has also participated in Habitat for Humanity, take church missions trips to South Carolina and Alabama, and served on the Big Walnut Teen Advisors steering committee to make the Big Walnut campus 100 percent smoke-free. In addition, she was named to Big Walnut’s winter homecoming court this year.

"There are several reasons for me attend MVNU,” said Smithberger. "I am choosing MVNU because of the quality of education that is offered, the religious affiliation, the opportunity to participate in the impressive soccer program, and the close proximity to family and friends.”

MVNU posted a 15-7-1 overall record in 2007 and was ranked No. 25 in the final NAIA national poll. The Lady Cougars also claimed a share of their fourth American Mideast Conference South Division title in the past five years, and MVNU has won two National Christian College Athletic Association national titles (2003 and 2006).