Rachel Ellenberger

Position:
Defender
Height:
5-6
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Grand Junction, Colo.
High School:
Grand Junction

Senior (2000): Ellenberger made two appearances as a defender during her senior season.

Junior (1999): Ellenberger started once and made five appearances as a junior defender. She earned her first career start in a 1-0 win over Colorado College on Sept. 19.

Sophomore (1998): Saw her first game action at Colorado, playing in five games at the defender spot.

Freshman (1997): Spent the season acclimating to the collegiate level and did not participate in any games.

High School: A three-year member of the girls' soccer team for head coach Chris Blackburn and Grand Junction, Rachel provided some offensive punch for the squad, registering five goals and two assists as a sophomore, 10 goals and two assists as a junior, and 10 goals and three assists as a senior for an impressive 57 career points. She earned all-conference honors as a junior, and claimed the Joe Biggs and William Foster Awards in 1997, which recognize Grand Junction's top athlete. Her top game as a prep came in 1996 against Colorado Springs, a contest which saw her score four goals. Grand Junction's soccer team was 34-6-3 during her career. Academically, Rachel was a first-team academic all-state selection as a junior and senior, and was a two-year member of both the National Honor Society and Who's Who.

Personal: Born February 16, 1979, in Grand Junction, Rachel plans to study anthropology and archaeology at Colorado. Her hobbies include hiking, biking, camping and playing other sports (volleyball, track and basketball). She played on a team that represented Colorado abroad and won the Dana Cup Championship in Denmark and took sixth place in the Gothia Cup Championship in Sweden. Her twin sister, Kyley, joined her in committing to Colorado in the spring of 1997.