The top-seeded Army men’s tennis team successfully defended its Patriot League title and secured the NCAA tournament automatic bid after handing No. 2 Navy a 4-1 setback in the championship finals held at the Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius, N.Y., Saturday and Sunday.

Senior doubles partners Marshall Clay and Andy Burdette were named the co-MVPs of the tournament as Army rode to its second win over the Mids this season and fourth-straight victory.

The Black Knights, who met Navy in the championship match for the seventh-straight year, surged to the victory as they dominated in doubles yielding just two games at No. 1 and 2 to post the point. Army then closed the door on the Mids by rolling to straight-set decisions at No. 3, 5 and 6 singles to put a lock on a sixth league title.

Clay, who had missed his last three doubles matches because of a shoulder injury, teamed with Burdette for an 8-1 pro-set victory to boost their mark at the No. 1 spot to 13-8.

Burdette, along with freshman John Sabia, had a hand in a pair of wins. He rolled to a 6-0, 6-4 verdict over Ryan Osgood at No. 5 singles to stretch his spring mark to 20-2.

Sabia, who teamed with sophomore Arnie Albornoz for a one-sided 8-1 decision at No. 2 doubles, held on to defeat Navy’s Chris McGrath 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles. Sophomore Matt Thinnes added a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Jim Shaughnessy at No. 6 to round out Army’s winners.

Clay was in his third set at No. 1 singles and Arnie Albornoz was tied 4-4 in the second set at No. 4 when their matches were terminated once the Black Knights had clinched the decision.

For his part in helping Army retain its Patriot League Men’s Tennis title, Marshall Clay was named the Army Athletic Association’s "Athlete of the Week" for the week ending April 22.

Clay was Army’s top singles player this season. He shattered the USMA career doubles record set by Wes White last year (57) earlier in the season and boosted his record to 63 with his wins over the weekend.

The Army senior, who has registered a 51-35 career mark in singles playing the last three years at the No. 1 spot, has helped the Black Knights to a 76-25 dual -match record over the past four years.