#TeamAU
Student Profile: The Grey Sisters
If you watch an Asbury volleyball practice or match, it wouldn’t take long to notice the talent and energy of Emma Grace Gray, a junior elementary education major, and Lucy Kate Gray, a sophomore pre-nursing major. The talented duo are sisters from Lexington, Ky., who chose to continue their educational and volleyball careers at Asbury.
“Emma Grace and Lucy Kate are a wonderful blessing to this program,” Head Coach Tiffany Horton said. “They have high character, which is key to making this program successful. They have shown great leadership on and off the court and we are grateful to have them.”
The Gray sisters shared the following insights with a member of The Ambassador editorial staff.
Q: How has your faith in Christ grown since coming to AU?
LK: Coming to Asbury, Jesus really changed my life. Here is where I made my faith my own. The main part of this is the community you have at Asbury. Everyone is so invested and hungry for more of the Lord. That drove me to become more like Him.
EG: Similar to LK, I really wanted to make my faith my own. My freshman year, I saw a lot of people that had something that I didn’t have at the first WHAM [Worship Him at Midnight] I attended. I saw it and wanted whatever that was. It is great to be in community where other people are striving for it and holding you accountable and pushing you to be better every day.
Q: What did you learn from the team mission trip to Puerto Rico this past summer?
LK: What was beautiful to see is how we turned an old classroom into a new space for troubled women and children who had been abused. We had to scrape old paint off the wall, gross stuff, and then we flipped it into pretty colors like pinks, grays and neutrals. On the top is said “come as you are” in Spanish and English. The heart behind it was just beautiful. We prayed over the room and just asked the Holy Spirit to fill the room so anyone who walked in there would feel welcome and loved.”
EG: It was cool that we were a group of women that could go down there and fix up a room for women that were going to have their lives changed hopefully in that room. It was really special as a team to be able to pour into women who were hurting so they can have a glimpse of the Lord through the work that we did.
AU Hosts Spoon’s Fiercely Faithful Cross Country Meet
On October 7, Asbury hosted the inaugural Spoon’s Fiercely Faithful Cross Country Meet. Justin Spoon ’21, the most accomplished male cross country student-athlete in Asbury history, passed away March 23, 2023. The two-time team captain was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a highly aggressive form of cancer, midway through his senior year.
Spoon courageously fought this disease for over two years with chemotherapy, radiation and numerous surgeries. Throughout this challenge, he was a consistent witness for Christ. Spoon inspired and encouraged other cancer patients, his team of medical professionals, friends and family, and legions of others who followed his victories and setbacks online and marveled at the strength of his character and faith.
TeamAU Student Leaders
The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has named its officers for the 2023-24 academic year.
- President: Hagan Webb, Soph., Business Major, Men’s Basketball
- Vice President: Maliya Crump, Jr., Media Comm. Major, Women’s Soccer
- Event/Marketing Director: Austin Dunlap, Jr., Sport Management Major, Men’s Soccer
- Social Media: Spencer Harvey, Sr., Communication Major, Women’s Basketball
- Prayer Team: Riley McChord, Soph., Communication Major, Volleyball
The SAAC is comprised of two student-athletes from each intercollegiate sport, along with an additional at-large representative and one student representative from the Cheerleading squad. The purpose of the student-led organization is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by fostering a positive student-athlete image within the Eagle teams, the Asbury campus community and the greater surrounding communities.
The group encourages open communication and discussion between coaches, administration and student-athletes. It serves as the voice of the student-athlete on campus and provides valuable insight into how University, NCAA and NCCAA policies may affect them.
NCAA Membership Process Update
Asbury Athletics continues to work through the NCAA Division III membership process. The 2023-24 academic year marks AU’s third and final year of provisional membership in NCAA Division III. Asbury is poised to become an active member of the NCAA on Sept. 1, 2024
The theme for Asbury student-athletes this year is SERVE > TRAIN > COMPETE for the Glory of God. There are several ways to support the nearly 400 student-athletes, coaches and staff that comprise TeamAU.
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PRAY that they would draw closer to Christ as a result of being a part of TeamAU
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JOIN the TeamAU Circle of Prayer
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WATCH a game in person or on the Asbury Sports Digital Network
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MAKE a gift or multi-year pledge to the TeamAU Fund
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FOLLOW @asburyeagles on social media or asburyeagles.com
Lybass Plaza Dedicated at Athletics Complex
In September, Asbury hosted a dedication for the Lybass Garden Plaza made possible through the 2022 Reunion gift project and gifts from Lybass friends and family. This plaza provides space in the Kirkland Athletic Complex for students and families to enjoy.
TeamAU Announces CCS Membership
Asbury has accepted an invitation to become a member of the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS).
The conference features nine member institutions (Agnes Scott College, Berea College, Belhaven University, Covenant College, Huntingdon College, LaGrange College, Maryville College, Piedmont University, and Wesleyan College) and sponsors championships across 14 sports.
“Asbury University is honored and excited to join the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS),” said Dr. Kevin Brown, President of Asbury University. “We are proud to join a conference whose schools strive for academic rigor, student development, and high-level athletic performance that prioritizes effort, excellence, hospitality and character. We are excited for the days ahead!” “Asbury is an institution deeply dedicated to development of the whole student, which makes for an ideal fit with the CCS,” said Dr. Bryan Coker of Maryville, CCS Council of Presidents Chair. “We have been quite impressed with the entire Asbury community and are so excited to welcome them to the conference.”
“Asbury truly understands the NCAA Division III philosophy and commitment to a holistic approach for student-athletes,” said Beth Vansant, CCS Commissioner. “I look forward to developing relationships with the community of Asbury in the years to come.”
For more information, visit asburyeagles.com.