Beginning at 7:30 p.m. of Saturday, November 6, the AUSA Open Gym provided an escape from the autumn chill and substituted in a night of friendly competition. Hosted in the Andreasen Wellness Center, the event offered opportunities for students to compete in volleyball and basketball tournaments. Joshua Deonarine (junior, finance) shares his thoughts on the evening, saying, “I enjoyed seeing the various basketball and volleyball tournaments. Though I didn’t get to play, it was fun to watch!” Whether or not people participated in the tournaments, the gym was packed with animated students. Another attendee, Luke Drew (junior, medical laboratory science), asserts that the event was “very cool.”
As the spotlight of the evening, the volleyball tournament sparked both high interest and participation. Set between multiple teams, Andrews’s volleyball players faced off on the court for glory and prizes. With the energy in the room electric, cheers rang out from the sidelines. Volleyballs smacked against the court, and the frenzied shouts of the players echoed through the gym. As the ball volleyed back and forth, sharp calls of “mine!” pierced the tension. Shoes skidded across the wood, and players dashed across the court. Hands rose to block the incoming ball, but as the opposing team spiked it hard, celebratory calls erupted from the scoring team. The tournament drove on for hours with the teams being steadily eliminated until a single team was crowned the winner.
Multiple students commented on the excitement of the volleyball tournament. “I played in the volleyball tournament. We had fun playing against the different teams,” says Darien Jung (sophomore, biology). In particular, the final game’s high stakes and skilled players stood out to Joshua Pak (senior, biochemistry). “It was a fun time, and I really enjoyed watching the last volleyball game,” Pak divulges. “Both teams were really good, so it made for a very entertaining game.” Commenting on the winning team, Tyler Lee (junior, business) said: “One team was ridiculously jacked with great players, so they were just dominating everyone, and we just watched as they smacked the ball into the ground. Other than that, it was fun. I think my team finished third place.”
On the gym’s opposite side, the basketball tournament persisted. With triumphant laughter chiming across the court, a player dribbled past his opponents. He dashed through the defense, his gaze flickering between their movements. He sprung up and shot. It arced through the air straight through the hoop. A friend shouted their approval as the game continued. With a smaller number of participants, the basketball tournament concluded much earlier than the volleyball tournament. As a result, students had fun engaging in mini games like dunking contests.
For less athletically-inclined, the open gym offered board games and an eating area. Pizza arrived around 8:00 p.m. The AUSA officers handed out Jet’s pizza with toppings from classic cheese to vegetable. Alannah Tjhatra (junior, biochemistry) states, “The one slice of vegan pizza I had was delicious.” However, opinions on the food varied. Grace No (sophomore, English) shares, “The pizza was not really to my liking, but I'm sure other people enjoyed it. I liked walking around with my friends.”
Overall, the night was a grand time. Students connected over good-natured games and vied for numerous prizes. The AUSA social vice president, Taylor Biek (senior, exercise science), summarizes the event, saying, “The open gym was super successful! I had fun just watching everyone enjoy a little friendly competition. There have been many requests for another, so keep your eyes peeled!”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.