Elder, a center midfielder from Lebanon, Ohio, was a three-time GWOC First Team selection and a three-time All-Miami Valley Second Team pick at Lebanon High School. As a senior, she scored four goals and registered 15 assists in 18 matches as she helped lead her team to their second straight GWOC South championship and a berth in the district semifinals for the second straight year. She was also an All-Cincinnati Metro Honorable Mention pick as a junior.

"The team is very excited about Rachel’s commitment to MVNU,” said head coach Jonathan Meade, who has posted a 134-61-7 overall record in nine seasons with the Lady Cougars. "She is a great addition to the team. She was first recommended by (former MVNU standout) Kristen (Votapek) Bowman, and I trust and respect Kristen’s opinion. It is always nice to have a former player make a player recommendation because they have a better understanding of what our program is all about.”

"Rachel has played at a high level and will help fill holes at the midfield after the graduation of (current MVNU senior) Page Miller,” added Meade. "She hit it off immediately when she visited campus. It just seemed to be the right place for her from the get-go. I appreciate Rachel’s heart for the Lord and her desire to grow spiritually as well as developing into the best player she can be. I think she will have an exciting four years at MVNU.”

In addition to playing soccer at Lebanon and for 10 years with the Thunder United FC team, Elder has been a three-year member of the varsity basketball team and two-year member of the varsity track team at Lebanon. She has been active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Lebanon Singers, and Student Council. She was also selected as a homecoming princess as a sophomore.

"MVNU has so much to offer a student looking for a higher level of education and also to help influence Christian values in many young adult lives,” said Elder. "I could have chosen to go to a bigger school for more of the college experience, but that is not what I wanted. A smaller school like MVNU is exactly what I was looking for. The students and staff are kind, caring, and make you feel that you are important to them.”

"I want to take advantage of every opportunity that I can to help out MVNU with campus activities, mission trips, and doing my best to get a great education,” Elder continued. "In addition to athletics, the Christian aspect of the school caught my attention. MVNU also has a great athletic program and I am very excited to be invited to play with the Lady Cougars. Playing a sport and trying to fit school in is always a tough task, but I am well-prepared for it.”

MVNU finished the 2008 season with a 16-8-1 overall that included a 9-3-1 mark in the American Mideast Conference. The Lady Cougars have won at least a share of four conference titles in the past six years and have claimed two National Christian College Athletic Association national titles during that span (2003 and 2006).