Jan. 19, 2010

Walnut Creek, Calif. - UCLA sophomore Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs was awarded Pac-10 Special Performance of the Week honors for Jan. 11-17, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today.

Hopfner-Hibbs, of Toronto, Ontario, scored a 9.9 on the floor exercise to take first place as the top-ranked Bruins defeated then-No. 19 Washington, 196.125-194.875. With a solid performance on the floor, the reigning Pac-10 Freshman of the Year helped UCLA record its second-straight 196+ score of the season. Hopfner-Hibbs is tied for first in the nation on floor with an average of 9.912.

This is the first-career Special Performance honor for Hopfner-Hibbs and UCLA's seventh all-time Special Performance selection. Hopfner-Hibbs, who was last week's Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week, has four Gymnast of the Week honors in her career.

Also receiving weekly honors was Stanford's Carly Janiga, who was named the Pac-10 Gymnast of the Week.

ALSO NOMINATED:
Gymnast of the Week: Deanna Graham, ARIZ; Mary Atkinson, ASU; Sophia Hocini, CAL; Mandi Rodriguez, OSU; Anna Li, UCLA; Hatsune Akaogi, WASH
Special Performance of the Week: Sarah Tomczyk, ARIZ; Mariesah Pierce, CAL; Laura-Ann Chong, OSU; Shelley Alexander, STAN; Samantha Walior, WASH

2010 PAC-10 GYMAST OF THE WEEK: Jan. 12 - Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, UCLA; Jan. 19 - Carly Janiga, STAN

2010 PAC-10 SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK: Jan. 12 - Britnie Jones, ARIZ; Jan. 19 - Elyse Hopfner-Hibbs, UCLA