Canada's men's volleyball team loses in 4 sets to Japan

After a hot start in their second game of these Olympics, Canada's men's volleyball team lost in four sets to host country Japan on Monday, falling to 0-2 in preliminary-round play.

Yuji Nishida was the top scorer for Japan with 23 points, while captain Gord Perrin led Canada with 22.

The first set was a nail-biter, with never more than two points separating the sides until Jay Blankenau put away the winner for Canada.

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The next two sets followed much of the same script, with Japan holding a lead for the first half of the second set until Canada was able to briefly pull ahead 13-12 on Lucas van Berkel's serve. But Japan quickly regained the lead on an error by Stephen Maar and held on until Nishida put away the winner.

Japan started to pull away midway through the third set and led by as many as five points before Canada pulled within one on a big Blankenau block. The Canadians kept it close until Ishikawa sealed the set for Japan. 

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The Japanese again pulled away in the fourth set, at one point leading 19-12 after taking advantage of Canadian errors. Canada rallied but never got closer than three points, with Japan comfortably taking the set.

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After the match, Perrin praised Japan for a match that included few errors.

"They out-served us and we struggled to get back back," he said after the game.

He would only say "maybe" when asked if the pressure of having high expectations going into the Olympic tournament might have gotten to the team in its first two matches.

"We prepared well. We were ready to take on this challenge," he said. "It sucks. It stings when you put a lot into it and you don't get anything back."

Canada next plays Iran on Wednesday morning with Japan facing Italy later in the day.

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The Canadian men are competing in their second straight Olympic Games following a 24-year absence. The team placed fifth in Rio and has never reached the Olympic podium.

The men's tournament features 12 teams split into two pools. After the preliminary round, the top four teams from each group advance to a single elimination bracket.

The tournament wraps up Aug. 7 with the gold- and bronze-medal matches.