It was an air affair as the Merrillville Pirates hosted the Whiting Oilers in a Duneland Athletic Conference volleyball match up Monday evening. Having never played each other it was up in the air who would win tonight.
"I don't know what to think about tonight," said first-year Pirate Coach Josh Pradziad. "The Oilers have had a real similar year so will just have to see how it goes."
"So far the season has been good. I'm pleased with what I have been seeing. We've had a lot of positive feedback on what we have done," Pradziad said.
Oilers Coach Julysse Saez was looking forward to the game. "We are feeling good. Hope our defense is there tonight, " Saez said. "Our season has been up and down. At the beginning of the season, we had games back to back. Now they are a bit more relaxed. They have had more practice. They have their energy back."
Whiting Sophomore Aileen Covarruvias has played volleyball for four years. She felt she and her team were ready to take on the Pirates. "I'm feeling good," Covarruvias said. "I am kind of energized but I have to give my all every game. As long as we maintain focus and play our hardest I think we can beat them."
The Oilers were slick with their opening moves but unfortunately, they could not hold off the Pirates, losing the first two sets to the Pirates 25-8 and 25-14.
Pirate fans cheered prior to the third set while the Oilers Head Coach Ashley Kieltyka gave a stern motivational talk to her players. It seemed at first Coach Kieltyka's words were working in the third match as both sides took turns being in the lead. In the end, it was the Pirates who would sail off to victory winning the last set 25-22.
The Pirates have a packed playing schedule for the week. They will stay home Tuesday as they host the Valparaiso Vikings in a conference match, travel Wednesday to Hammond and then travel Thursday to La Porte for another conference match. The Oilers next travel to River Forest on Wednesday as they set against the Ingots.