STARKVILLE, Miss. — Gonzaga volleyball fell in straight sets (16-25, 16-25) to Mississippi State in its StarkVegas Classic finale Saturday morning, with timely runs from State keeping the Zags from avenging their Friday afternoon loss despite another balanced performance from a variety of contributors.

Junior Kennedy Croft finished with a team-high 13 kills and three service aces, and grad senior Cara McKenzie (two blocks) and junior McKenna Marshall (five digs) added six kills apiece. Grad senior Brynn Chandler led the team in assists for the third straight game with 27 to go with two service aces and six digs. GU put up double-digit kills in each set, connecting on a game-high 12 in a tightly-contested third.

After a 3-0 start to the first set from MSU built an early lead, the Zags stormed back with four straight of their own to retake control, punctuated by a block from McKenzie and Chandler that gave GU a 7-5 lead. The Zags led by as much as three, but State closed out on a 14-5 run to finish the set with a nine-point advantage.

GU hit a game-high .357 in the second set, but ultimately fell by the same score after a four-point swing gave State a three-point lead they wouldn't give up for the rest of the set. A contentious third set saw 10 ties and six lead changes, with GU knotting it up at 22-all after two consecutive attack errors from MSU to threaten to force a fourth set. The Zags picked up five service aces in the third and a game-high 12 kills, but another late surge — this time a 3-0 run to close the game — undid hopes of a rally.

The Zags return home to host the Gonzaga Invitational in Spokane next weekend, set to face Seattle on Friday at 3 p.m. in the Martin Centre. Check GoZags.com for links to live streams, up-to-date match time information and live stats.