Canada beat the US in five tightly contested sets, coming from behind to win 22-25, 25-22, 25-15, 22-25, 15-10 in Durango in Mexico.

Opposite Xander Ketrzynski led the team to victory with 25 points, while outside hitter Brandon Koppers added 19 points - 16 kills and three blocks - and Mathias Elser added 10 points - eight kills and two aces.

Middle blocker Jake Hanes again top scored for the US, who won their first two matches of the tournament, only to then lose to defending champions Cuba in the final pool match and now drop into the fifth to eighth classification with defeat to Canada.

Canadian captain Brett Walsh said: "We fought really hard and did whatever it took to win tonight.

"We came on the court and did everything we could to win. 

"We had different players stepping up at different times, some playing in different positions than they usually do. 

"We have to come out with the same energy and focus in the semi-final."

Puerto Rico joined Canada in the semi-finals with a 25-22, 22-25, 25-16, 25-23 win over the Dominican Republic. 

Opposite Gabriel García led all scorers for Puerto Rico with a match-high 26 points.

Oswald Antonetti, head coach of Puerto Rico, said: "The Dominican Republic are well prepared, they are physically in good shape, they are organized and have many qualities, therefore it was a psychological match.

"We depend on our emotional intelligence. 

"We are a team of tradition, we are current Central American and Caribbean champions, we want this team to feed on those traditions, we are excited to continue playing."

The semi-finals take place tomorrow, with Cuba facing Puerto Rico and Canada playing Mexico. 

Trinidad and Tobago play the Dominican Republic and the US play Guatemala as places five through eight are decided over the next two days of competition.