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Union, NJ -- In a season-opening matchup between two top-10 nationally ranked teams, it would be the No. 6 Kean University Cougars (1-0) who would sneak past No. 10 Elmira College (0-1) in five sets. 
 
Offensively, Elmira was led by classmates Erik Griffin '16 and Mike Ellison '16 who combined for 39 of Elmira's 63 kills.  Griffin finished with 22 kills and eight digs while Ellison turned in 17 kills to go along with nine digs.  Newcomer Carlos Faccio '16 pieced together a very impressive first match as the new Soaring Eagle logged 53 assists and three aces, both of which were game-highs.
 
Kean won the first and third sets while Elmira claimed the second and fourth, forcing a fifth set to decide today's match. The Cougars made it tough for EC in the fourth as they fended off two set points but a pair of Kean errors led to Elmira taking the fourth, 26-24.
 
In the fifth, with the score tied 5-5, the Cougars won three consecutive points to take an 8-5 lead which would eventually turn into a 10-7 lead.  The Soaring Eagles cut the lead to one at 11-10 but Kean would reclaim their three-point lead, 14-11.
 
Elmira fought off a pair of set points thanks to a Kean service error and a kill by Griffin.  However, an attack error by Griffin gave the Cougars the fifth and final set at 15-13.
 
The Soaring Eagles will look to bounce back tomorrow when Elmira concludes play at the Kean Men's Volleyball Classic.  EC opens play on day two against Endicott College at 11:00 a.m. before wrapping-up the classic with a 3:00 p.m. match against Hunter College.