Canadians Mark Heese and Ahren Cadieux set a new team best at the FIVB World Tour stop in Zagreb, Croatia, but finished in fifth-place after losing their quarter-final match on Saturday.

The 22nd-ranked pair, both of Toronto, dropped a 21-17, 21-17 decision to 16th-ranked Kristjan Kais and Rivo Vesik of Estonia.

Kais and Vesik advanced to Sunday's final as a result of winning their second elimination match of the day against Canada and will face Patrick Heuscher and Sascha Heyer of Switzerland in the final.

Despite the setback, the fifth-place finish still proved beneficial for Heese and Cadieux.

The pair earned $10,000 US for its result but, more importantly, earned 360 ranking points. The points are collected over the course of the FIVB Beach Volleyball season and help determine which teams qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Heese and Cadieux reached the quarter-finals at Zagreb thanks to upsets over 11th-seeded Mariano Baracetti and Martin Conde of Argentina, and the sixth-seeded team of Reinder Nummerdor and Richard Schuil of the Netherlands.

The Canadian team will continue their quest for Olympic qualification, competing from June 12-17 in Espinho, Portugal.

With files from the Canadian Press