KAZAN, Russia (Team Canada) – The Canadian men’s volleyball team suffered an unexpected setback in Group D action at the Summer Universiade on Monday, dropping a four-set decision (20-25, 25-19, 17-25, 22-25) to Chile.

Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2013 

Team Canada Twitter: @CDNUniversiade | #gocanada 

Summer Universiade website: www.kazan2013.com/en

Canada is considered among the favourites at the tournament after finishing in the top six at each of the last three FISU Games, including fourth in 2011 in Shenzhen, China. Meanwhile, the Chileans are competing at the biennial tourney for the second time in history, their only previous appearance dating back to 1963 when they ended up eighth and last.

With the loss, the Canadian men drop to 2-1 in pool play, making their last round-robin match against the Czech Republic on Thursday a must win if they hope to finish first in pool play. Game time is 8 p.m. local (noon ET).

Vincente Parraguirre powered Chile to the victory with an impressive 24 kills, nine more than any other players in the match, including eight in the first set. He also had 12 digs. Cristobal Lopez and Alan Rilling also chipped in on the attack for the winners with nine kills each.

For Canada, Nicholas Hoag of Sherbrooke, Que., paced the offence with 15 kills, while older brother Chris (University of Calgary) had 10

Parraguirre rallied his troops to a 25-20 victory in the opening set with his eight kills. With the frame tied at 19, Chile went on a 6-1 run to close it out. Parraguirre had three kills and a block during the sequence.

Chile took the lead to open the second set but Canada tied the game at 10. The red and white offence then came to life scoring the next three points and grew its advantage to five, at 18-13, en route to the 25-19 win.

In the third, Chile went ahead 8-7 and never trailed again in the set. Parraguirre had four straight kills for his team to increase the lead from 17-14 to 21-15. 

Canada was in control early in the fourth, at 13-8. However, trailing 18-15, Chile mounted another comeback, scoring five straight points to go ahead 20-18. The Canucks tied it at 22 all but would not lead again, and a Nicholas Hoag attacking error was the final nail in the coffin.

BOXSCORE: Canada vs Chile