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Fort Wayne just weeks before the start of the season has added another recruit who has experience playing in some of the world’s biggest youth volleyball tournaments.
Coach Rock Perrotte announced Tuesday that Tomas Gago, a middle attacker on the Chilean Men’s Junior National Team, has committed to play for the Mastodons beginning in the 2018 season.
Gago was ninth among all middle attackers at the U21 Pan American Cup with 19 kills and added five blocks during the international event in May. With the Chilean Boys’ Youth National Team, he also was among the team leaders with 30 kills and six blocks as Chile finished the 2015 FIVB U19 World Championship in 16th place.
“We are really excited to have Tomas join our program,” Perrotte said in a statement. “His playing experience with the Chilean National Team and his leadership qualities are tremendous assets we are looking forward to having added to our team this season. His presence on the floor will help us be better systematically. Hopefully, he will adjust to the university game quickly and display his impact immediately.”
Gago arrives to Fort Wayne after graduating from high school in 2015 and then spending a year at Pontificia Universidad Catolica.
This is the second international signing in Fort Wayne’s recruiting class. Setter Frederico Santos committed to the Mastodons in the summer and spent his offseason playing for Portugal at the World University Games.
Fort Wayne endured multiple injuries to starters last season and finished in last place in the MIVA. The Mastodons, though, return multiple starters for the upcoming season, including Freshman All-MIVA outside attacker Pelegrin Vargas.
Fort Wayne will open its 2018 season with a non-conference home match against Emmanuel on Jan. 5.