Canada’s run at Volleyball Nations League ends with quarterfinal loss to Japan

The Canadian men’s volleyball team was eliminated from Volleyball Nations League action with a 3-0 loss to Japan in quarterfinal action Thursday.

World No. 2 Japan posted set scores of 26-24, 25-18, 26-24 in a rematch of last week’s preliminary-round match in Manila, Philippines, which Canada won 3-2.

Japan’s Yuki Ishikawa led all scoring with 26 points. Arthur Szwarc led Canada with 17 points.

The loss in Lodz, Poland ended a successful campaign for the Canadian men, who advanced to the VNL quarterfinals for the first time and beat Japan and powerhouse Brazil in the preliminary round.

Ninth-ranked Canada now turns its attention to the Paris Olympics, where it will compete in Pool A along with host and defending champion France, Slovenia and Serbia.

“We proved to ourselves that we are a good team throughout VNL, and we can compete with everyone,” Canada coach Tuomas Sammelvuo said. “But to compete is not our goal, the goal is to win games in the Olympics in a very tough pool, and that will allow us to move to the next stage.”

WATCH | Full match replay — Canada vs. Japan:

Canadian roster

• Luke Herr – Winnipeg
• Brett Walsh – Calgary
• Ryley Barnes – Edmonton
• Nicholas Hoag – Sherbrooke, Que.
• Eric Loeppky – Steinbach, Man.
• Stephen Maar – Aurora, Ont.
• Brodie Hofer – Langley, B.C.
• Pearson Eshenko – Banff, Alta.
• Fynn McCarthy – Lake Country, B.C.
• Danny Demyanenko – Toronto
• Lucas Van Berkel – Edmonton
• Xander Ketrzynski – Toronto
• Arthur Szwarc – Toronto
• Justin Lui – Pickering, Ont.
• Reserve: Jordan Schnitzer – Surrey, B.C.
• Reserve: Landon Currie – Coldstream, B.C.