Morgan Petty Named 2024 America East Woman of the Year - University at Albany Great Danes (2024)

BOSTON - University at Albany softball student-athlete Morgan Petty has been named the 2024 America East Women of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday night. Petty was announced as a nominee in early May and was later announced as a finalist just last week.

The America East Man and Woman of the Year awards recognize the conference's senior male and female student-athletes who have best distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service, and leadership. The original nominees represented all nine member institutions.

To be nominated, student-athletes must have competed in an America East sponsored sport and completed intercollegiate eligibility in their primary sport by the end of the 2024 spring season or received their undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2024 term and have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale).

"We are all so proud of Morgan and thrilled to see her receive such a well-deserved honor," said softball Head Coach Chris Cannata. "To be named Woman of the Year is an exclamation point on a career spent exemplifying the values of the America East Conference, UAlbany, and UAlbany Softball. She leaves a mark on our program and the conference that will be an example for student-athletes to strive towards for years to come."

Petty becomes the fifth Great Dane to win the conference's Woman of the Year honor and the second such softball student-athlete to do so, joining Kelly Barkevich (2020). Other alumnae to capture the prestigious honor include Tara Belinsky (2019) of track & field, Nikki Branchini (2011) of women's lacrosse, and Ashlee Reed (2006) of volleyball. Two former Great Danes have also captured the conference's Man of the Year honor in Adrian Mitchell (2021) of track & field and Kyle McClancy (2018) of lacrosse.

"Morgan has been the epitome of what we look for in our student-athletes," said UAlbany Director of Athletics Mark Benson. "She has been a leader both on and off the field throughout her career, holding herself to the highest standards at every turn. We are truly fortunate to have had her represent us for the past five years.

Benson added "Her career accomplishments speak for themselves, but her service off the field as the leader of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and her work with the Hidden Opponent has been remarkable. She has cared so much for UAlbany since her first day on campus. It's rare to go to any athletic event we are hosting without seeing her supporting her fellow student-athletes."

Petty closed out her career with UAlbany softball as one of the best players in program history. Second in the record books with 14 career triples, she is also tied for second with 33 career home runs. Totaling 154 RBI, 206 hits, 142 runs, 36 doubles, and 72 stolen bases, she finished with top-five numbers in each statistical category. Her .357 career batting average is good for seventh in program history.

A two-time America East Player of the Year, Petty recently earned her second consecutive NFCA All-Region honor and third consecutive First Team All-Conference award. Earning all-conference awards in all four (full) seasons, she is one of just eight Great Danes to earn first-team honors at least three times. The graduate student closed out her career with three hits at the America East Tournament, including two in the championship, and three RBIs with a triple at the NCAA Bryan-College Station Regional.

A leader on the field, in the classroom, and in the community, Petty has been involved with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for all five years at UAlbany. A two-time America East All-Academic honoree, she was the 2023-24 SAAC President and a co-founder of the student mental health organization, The Hidden Opponent.

The America East began honoring a Woman of the Year in 2006 and introduced the Man of the Year award in 2015. Click here to view an All-Time America East Man & Woman of the Year Award listing.

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