NEW YORK, N.Y. (2/25/12) – The Kean University men's volleyball team posted a 3-1 win over #5 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as the Cougars closed out the first day of action with a pair of wins at the Baruch Quad Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

Kean opened the day with a 3-1 win (25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15) over Elmira College, before posting the tightly contested win over the Engineers (26-24, 22-25, 29-27, 25-20).

Senior Christian Portera and junior Steve Vahalla each posted 15 kills in each match for the Cougars (11-2), who post the program's first win over a nationally ranked opponent in just its second year as a program.

Tied at 20-20 in the pivotal fourth set against MIT (11-4), freshman Kyle Farley (pictured left) posted four straight blocks to give the Cougars the 24-20 advantage, setting up the Cougar win as MIT committed a hitting error for Kean match point.

In the match, Farley set new school-records with 10 assisted blocks and 14 total blocks, while tying the school mark with four solo blocks.  As a team, the Cougars posted 20.5 blocks.

Portera and Valhalla combined for 30 kills and just eight errors in 68 total attacks against MIT, while rookie setter Alex Barnhard dished out 35 assists and Jimmy Pompeo had a team-high 16 digs.

Earlier in the day against Elmira, Portera and Valhalla combined for 30 kills and just 11 errors in 65 attack attempts.  Sophomore libero Tom Kemmerle finished with 15 digs and Barnhard dished out a career-high 41 assists against Elmira.

The Cougars return to the Baruch Quad Invitational on Sunday, February 26, when the Cougars face Stevens Institute of Technology and Division II Pfeiffer University.