A former Division 1 volleyball player at Michigan State University, Elena earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism from the College of Communication Arts and Sciences at MSU in 2021. Elena then attended Northwestern University and earned her graduate degree from the Medill School of Journalism in 2023. While earning her degree at Medill, Elena worked for Marquee Sports Network, the primary television network for the Chicago Cubs, as a digital media coordinator. Following graduation, Elena stayed in Chicago and began working as a freelance volleyball analyst for Big Ten Network while also freelancing as a social media specialist for Athletes Unlimited.