Box | All-Tournament Team | Championship presentation
Updated stats
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Fourth-seeded Nazareth rallied from a two-set disadvantage Sunday to claim the Empire 8 Conference championship in women's volleyball with a five-set victory over second-seeded Stevens. Scores were 21-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-17, 15-10.

Nazareth improved to 22-14 overall and claimed its second E8 title in a row and fifth overall, The Golden Flyers also gained their 10th NCAA Tournament berth. Stevens finished its season at 17-18 overall.

Nazareth never trailed in the fifth and decisive set as tournament MVP Maria Allocco had five of her 14 kills, including the clinching swing on match point. It marked the second year in a row that Allocco was named tournament MVP. Senior Amy Johnson had 15 kills, three aces and five blocks and was named to the all-tournament team. Senior setter Aubrey Cooke also made the all-tournament team after contributing 49 assists, 10 digs and four blocks.

Nazareth's championship chances officially went on life support after the Golden Flyers dropped the second set as Stevens used a 13-1 run to erase a 17-12 deficit. Nazareth nearly suffered a similar fate in the third set as the Golden Flyers built a 21-16 advantage only to watch Stevens rally to tie the score at 23-23. Nazareth prevailed, though, thanks to a combined block from Allocco and Cooke on the 24th point and a Stevens hitting error on the 25th.

Nazareth squared the match at two sets apiece by building a 20-12 lead in the fourth set as Johnson produced four kills and a service ace. Nazareth led 22-17 and closed out the set with kills from Chelsea Beecher and Kassandra Buseck and a Stevens hitting error.

In the fifth set, Nazareth was up 8-4 when the teams switched sides. Allocco produced kills on three of the Golden Flyers' last four points and Beecher contributed a service ace to seal the win.

Nazareth hit .295 overall (53-15-129) for the match. Buseck and OIivia Harrigan each had eight kills and Beecher added six more. Senior libero Brittany Crocetti added 21 digs.

Nazareth now will compete in an eight-team NCAA regional next weekend at a site to be determined. Pairings will be announced Monday.