We have arrived at the last weekend of this year's Mizuno League, which will be held with the Final Four in Førde. The semi-finals start on Friday, April 17th and the Bronze Final and final on Saturday, April 18th for Women and Men. You can follow the Final Four Mizuno League live on MyGame or from the stands in Øyrane Arena .
Final Four match schedule from Øyrane Arena
Friday, April 17
Women – Final Four
- TIF Viking – Koll at 1:00 PM
- Førde – Øksil at 15:15
Men – Final Four
- Førde – TIF Viking at 17:30
- BK Tromsø – Koll at 19:45
Saturday, April 18
Women – Final Four
- Bronze final at 10:30
- FINAL at 13:00
Men – Final Four
- Final at 3:30 PM
- Bronze final at 17:30
Women's semi-final Final Four April 17
TIF Viking – Koll
Match time: 13:00
The first match in this weekend's Final Four on the women's side offers a real top-notch matchup when reigning triple champion TIF Viking meets a hard-working and physically strong Koll team.
The teams have met twice this season, and Koll has had the upper hand so far. They won 3–0 at home and followed it up with a solid 3–1 away win, which gives them a slight mental edge heading into the semi-finals.
TIF Viking finished in a strong 2nd place in the Mizuno League after a dramatic end to the season, where both Førde and Koll were also in the fight for the league gold all the way. Despite somewhat varying performances throughout the season, the team has shown good form after Christmas with eight wins in the last ten games. The team's most important point picker this season has been Grethe Soltvedt, who has averaged 12.2 points per game.
Koll, on the other hand, had to make their way through the quarterfinals after finishing in 3rd place in the series. There they delivered solid performances against Randaberg, winning 3–2 in the first game and 3–1 in the second. This means that they enter the semifinals with both match form and self-confidence. Koll's top scorer this season is Selma Hodne, who averages 12 points per game.
What can we expect in the first semi-final on the women's side?
This is shaping up to be a close and intense semi-final between two very evenly matched teams. With the points tally tied in the series, separated only by set difference, it is the small margins that will decide. We can expect long rallies, solid defensive performances and a high tempo. The match will likely be decided by which team manages to best exploit the momentum in the crucial phases.
TIF Viking will be looking for revenge after two losses to Koll this season, and their strong form could be decisive. At the same time, the lack of recent meaningful matches could be a slight disadvantage. Koll, on the other hand, has the advantage of being in fighting mode after the quarterfinals and has been able to play well into this semifinal.
Still, I think TIF Viking draws the longest straw in a very even and nerve-wracking match that goes all the way to five sets.
Prediction: TIF Viking wins 3–2.
Førde – Øksil
Match time: 15:15
The second semi-final on the women's side of the Final Four offers an exciting showdown between home team Førde and Øksil. This is also a repeat of the cup final, where Førde won comfortably 3–0. The question is whether Øksil can fight back and get their revenge this time.
Førde enters the Final Four weekend with great confidence after winning both the Mizuno League and the Cup. They thus have the opportunity to secure a historic triple championship this season. One of the big key players has been Emilie Olimstad, who went from beach volleyball to Førde before the indoor season and has delivered an impressive 16.1 points per game.
Øksil finished 4th in the Mizuno League and had to go to the quarterfinals against Oslo Volley. There they showed strength and control, and won both games 3–0. The team thus enters the semifinals in good shape and self-confidence after a solid end to the season. The big profile at Øksil is Ragni Steen Knudsen, who has been outstanding this season with a whopping 22.2 points per game.
What can we expect in the second semifinal of the Final Four on the women's side?
This is set to be a close and intense match. The teams complement each other well in terms of strengths and weaknesses, and we can expect the match to vary from set to set. Serve pressure, quality of reception and efficiency in the transition game will likely be decisive factors. Both teams have shown that they can perform when it matters most, and in a semi-final like this, small margins make the difference.
Førde may still have an advantage in playing at home, which often provides an extra boost and security in the crucial moments.
Prediction: Førde wins 3–1.
Men's semi-final Final Four April 17
Førde – TIF VIking
Match time: 17:30
The first semi-final on the men's side in the Final Four on Friday, April 17, offers a real top-notch showdown when Førde, with its home field in Øyrane Arena, meets reigning Final Four champions TIF Viking.
Førde secured victory in the Mizuno League after a dramatic finish, where they finally beat BK Tromsø in a decisive 3–2 match at home two months ago. Both teams won their remaining matches, which made this matchup absolutely crucial for the league gold. Førde also made it to the cup final, but there they were clearly beaten 3–0 by BK Tromsø. Nevertheless, this year's Førde team appears to be more complete than in several years, with good balance in the game. The team's leading point picker is Olav Ingebrigtsen, who averages a solid 14.9 points per match.
TIF Viking entered the season with major changes after several key players left to try their hand as professionals. This has affected the team throughout a season of varying performances, and they ultimately finished in 4th place in the series. This meant they had to go to the quarterfinals against Øksil last weekend. There they won the first game 3–1 after a close and even battle, while game two ended in a bitter 2–3 loss after Viking had led 2–1. Nevertheless, they managed to advance, and the team enters the Final Four with match training in their bodies. TIF Viking's top scorer this season is Eirik Bjelland with 15.5 points per game.
What can we expect in the first semifinal of the Final Four on the men's side?
The teams have met twice this season, and Førde has had a clear advantage with victories 3–0 at home and 3–1 away. With home field advantage and a strong crowd behind them, Førde must be considered favorites going into this semi-final.
At the same time, this could be a much tougher match than the statistics suggest. TIF Viking comes in without pressure and with a nice mix of experience and youthful enthusiasm. It is a team that can play freely, and has the capacity to create problems for anyone when they hit serve and attack.
It is easy to imagine TIF Viking opening the match aggressively, with high serve pressure and good tactical moves after a week of preparation. If they get an early lead, they could easily steal the first set. Then it will be crucial whether Førde manages to keep a cool head, show patience and work his way back into the match.
Everything is set for an intense and dramatic semi-final, with long rallies, high temperatures and narrow margins. This could quickly develop into a real thriller of a volleyball match, where momentum swings from set to set and the crowd really gets something to cheer about.
There is a good chance that this will go all the way to five sets in a nerve-wracking battle on Friday night.
Prediction: Førde wins 3-2
BK Tromsø – Koll
Match time: 19:45
This was the year BK Tromsø finally celebrated a long-awaited cup final title, after two straight final losses in the previous seasons. That triumph gave the team a solid dose of self-confidence, even though there was a slight downturn in the series, where they finished 2nd in the Mizuno League, only beaten on set difference. This year's big point picker for the Tromsø team is Toms Liepa, who has delivered an impressive 18.8 points per game.
On the opposite side we find what is referred to as "The locomotive of all Norway" Koll. After a season that did not quite go smoothly in the Mizuno League, where they finished in 3rd place, they now come to the Final Four with a clear desire for revenge. The road there was via the quarter-finals against Randaberg last weekend, where Koll delivered two very solid games and won both comfortably 3–0. The team's most important offensive contributor this season has been Jakub Intrys, with an average of 15.5 points per game.
So what can we expect in the other semi-final on the men's side?
Everything is set for a fireworks display of a match on Friday, April 17. BK Tromsø will certainly be highly motivated after losing the league title at the finish line, and they have had plenty of time to prepare for the Final Four. At the same time, they have had a slight psychological advantage over Koll this season, having won both of their previous matches. Both times by the narrowest possible margin, 3–2.
Still, this is a completely open matchup. Koll is a team that can vary in performance, but when they hit their peak level, they are extremely difficult to beat. This is something they have also shown in Europe this season. And with the Final Four at stake, there is little doubt that they are fielding their strongest team.
The match could quickly become a classic: BK Tromsø with its stable and consistent level against a Koll team that fluctuates more, but can be completely unstoppable at times. It smells of long exchanges, high tempo, massive serves and an electric atmosphere throughout the Friday evening.
This is a match that has it all – quality, rivalry, revenge and players who can decide on their own. Everything indicates that we will have another five-setter, where small margins and nerves will play a decisive role.
Prediction: BK Tromsø wins 3-2
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MyGame – the place to watch the Final Four in the Mizuno League
You can watch the Mizuno League on MyGame via TV 2 Play. Here you get access to exciting volleyball matches from the men's and women's sides throughout the season. The platform gives you the opportunity to follow your favorite teams, watch the matches live and stay updated on the most important matches of the season. For the full match schedule, check out MyGame's match overview: Click here
