SAN FRANCISCO – In the week following its final match of the 2022 season, Academy of Art volleyball Head Coach Breann Robinson and her staff have announced two early-committing Urban Knights, outside hitter Lola Martin (Sonoma, Calif./Sonoma Valley) and outside hitter/right side Crystal Creek (Kyle, Texas/Hays), who will look to figure into the program's future success.

Lola Martin (Sonoma, Calif. / Sonoma Valley)
Currently a three-sport student-athlete at Sonoma Valley High School, Martin has competed in varsity volleyball, basketball, and track & field for each of the past three years. Excelling in all three, Martin captained her volleyball squad after the squad had won the Vine Valley Athletic League title and was named All-League First Team, All-League Second Team, and All-Tournament Team in the Paganini Memorial Volleyball Tournament in addition to earning three Scholar-Athlete Award honors.

Martin garnered "Most Inspirational Player" as a freshman in basketball, added All Offensive Player one year later, and in track & field, placed sixth in the high jump at the Meet of Champions prior to the State Championships. Outside of her high school career, Martin was a member of her club team, the Empire 17 1s, earning JVA Watch List and Amateur Athletic Union Academic All-American honors along the way.

As she works toward a career in sports photography, Martin will enter the Academy of Art School of Photography next fall.

"Lola is an incredible athlete with tons of potential," Robinson said. "Her physicality and athleticism will be a huge asset for us and she's also extremely well-rounded as a player which makes her a diverse threat at the net. Lola brings a contagious energy and her work ethic is second to none. We're very excited for her to join us next season."

Crystal Creek (Kyle, Texas / Hays)
Approaching her graduation from Hays High School in 2023, Creek has shown her athletic versatility, competing as a three-sport student-athlete. Creek has been a four-year varsity letter winner in volleyball as well as basketball and track & field, leading her to numerous accolades including District Newcomer of the Year and Team Offensive Most Valuable Player in 2019 as well as First Team All-District and MVP both in 2020. She followed that up by repeating those 2020 honors in 2021 then, after being recognized as an AVCA Prep Phenom all four years, added her name to the AVCA All-American Watch List in 2022. A four-time Academic All District honoree, Creek also competed for multiple club teams including multi-year stints with both the Austin Juniors and Austin Skyline.

Creek joins the Academy of Art School of Communications & Media Technologies next fall as she pursues her dream of working with a professional sports team.

"We're so excited to have Crystal join us," Robinson said. "Her background and experience coupled with her high volleyball IQ make her a great addition to our current squad. Her size and power not only make her a great offensive threat, but also a defensive asset with her block as well. She is an important part of our puzzle that we're putting together for next fall."