MALIBU, Calif. - The Drake men's tennis team earned its first victory of the season on the strength of a 6-1 decision over 53rd-rated Denver on Sunday (Jan. 27) as part of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Kickoff Weekend.

The Pioneers struck first in doubles as Alex Clinkenbeard and Luke Manley secured an 8-3 victory at the No. 3 position over freshman Ben Lott (Newcastle, England) and sophomore Alen Salibasic (Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina).

The Bulldogs quickly roared back to secure the doubles tally with triumphs at the Nos. 1 and 2 holes.

Seniors Anis Ghorbel (Sfax, Tunisia) and James McKie (Edinburgh, Scotland), who are ranked No. 16 in the latest ITA national doubles rankings, bested Enej Bonin and Jens Vorkefeld at No. 1, 8-6.

Clinching the doubles point on court No. 2 was senior Jean Erasmus (Windhoek, Namibia) and junior Robin Goodman (Cambridge, England), who downed Henry Craig and Max Krammer by an identical 8-6 margin.

Salibasic gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead after opening singles play with a 6-4, 6-4 victory against Krammer at the No. 4 position.

Denver cut the margin in half following a 6-2, 6-4 win by 47th-ranked Bonin over 35th-rated Ghorbel on the top court.

Goodman stretched the Bulldogs' advantage to 3-1 besting Craig at No. 3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Securing the first victory in the coaching career of Drake head coach Davidson Kozlowski with a come-from-behind three-set triumph was Erasmus, who downed Clinkenbeard at No. 5, 6-7 (6), 6-0, 6-1.

The Bulldogs also received wins at the Nos. 2 and 6 slots courtesy of McKie and sophomore Ben Mullis (Leicestershire, England).

McKie posted a 7-6 (4), 5-7, 10-5 decision past Vorkefeld, while Mullis registered a 7-6 (4), 7-5 victory over Manley.

The Bulldogs open their home campaign on Friday (Feb. 1) as the Bulldogs entertain Graceland and UMKC at the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.  Match times are slated for 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.

NO. 45 DRAKE (1-1) DEF NO. 53 DENVER (0-2), 6-1

JAN. 27, 2013 • MALIBU, CALIF.

SINGLES:

No. 1 No. 47 Enej Bonin (DEN) def. No. 35 Anis Ghorbel (DU), 6-2, 6-4

No. 2 No. 68 James McKie (DU) def. Jens Vorkefeld (DEN), 7-6 (4), 5-7, 10-5

No. 3 Robin Goodman (DU) def. Henry Craig (DEN), 4-6, 6-1, 6-1

No. 4 No. 86 Alen Salibasic (DU) def. Max Krammer (DEN), 6-4, 6-4

No. 5 Jean Erasmus (DU) def. Alex Clinkenbeard (DEN), 6-7 (6), 6-0, 6-1

No. 6 No. 109 Ben Mullis (DU) def. Luke Manley (DEN), 7-6 (4), 7-5

Order of finish: 4,1,3,5,2,6

DOUBLES:

No. 1 No. 16 Ghorbel/McKie (DU) def. Bonin/Vorkefeld (DEN), 8-6

No. 2 Erasmus/Goodman (DU) def. Craig/Krammer (DEN), 8-6

No. 3 Clinkenbeard/Manley (DEN) def. Ben Lott/Salibasic (DU), 8-3

Order of finish: 3,1,2