The Mizuno League round 12 – preview analysis
Round 12 of the Mizuno League will be played on the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February with exciting matches in both the women's and men's classes.
Saturday 7th February
Women – Mizuno League
- Øksil – Førde at 2:30 PM
- Oslo Volley – TIF VIking at 2:30 PM
- Randaberg – NTNUI at 4:30 PM
Men – Mizuno League
- OSI – TIF VIKING at 1:30 PM
- Randaberg – NTNUI at 2:00 PM
- Øksil – Førde at 17:00
Sunday 8th February
Women – Mizuno League
- TVN – NTNUI at 2:00 PM
- Koll – TIF VIking at 5:00 PM
Men – Mizuno League
- TVN – NTNUI at 11:00
- Koll – TIF Viking at 2:00 PM
Mizuno League Saturday February 7th women
Øksil – Førde
Match time: 14:30
Øksil is coming off a strong home game against Oslo Volley, where they secured a comfortable 3–1 win with the home crowd behind them last weekend. With that win, Øksil climbs the Mizuno League table, and the team knows well how important the support from the stands is and that it could be something that could be decisive when they now get the chance to get revenge against Førde, three weeks after the cup final loss.
For Førde, on the other hand, got a reality check after a 1–3 loss away to TIF Viking, after they had previously beaten Øksil 3–0 in the cup final on January 17. For Førde, this is a very important match in the fight for the league title, and everything indicates that they will be playing with a full squad. This is considered the toughest away match of the season – and the framework is set for a heated showdown.
Match rating
The cup final again, and here I expect Øksil to be hungry for revenge and go all out with the home crowd behind them. The question is whether Førde can withstand the pressure Øksil will bring on their home field. Thus, I believe Øksil will take revenge after the bitter loss in the cup final in January.
Prediction: Axil wins 3-1
Oslo Volleyball – TIF Viking
Match time: 2:30 PM
Oslo Volley has had a tough start to 2026, losing 1–3 in the Oslo derby against Koll and another 1–3 loss away to Øksil last weekend. However, Oslo Volley will now finally have their first home game of 2026, which could give the team a major boost. The challenge is that they will be visited by an in-form TIF Viking.
Oslo Volley has already shown this season that they can challenge the best teams in the league. This was evident in the previous meeting between the teams, where Oslo Volley narrowly lost 2–3 away after a dramatic fifth set that ended 17–15. Oslo Volley therefore enters the match knowing that they have a good chance of fighting for points against TIF Viking.
TIF Viking, on the other hand, has had a brilliant start to 2026, with two strong home wins: 3–0 against Randaberg and 3–1 in the Westlands derby against Førde. It seems that TIF Viking has found its way back to the form from the 2024–2025 season. The team appears solid in all areas and seems to have come through the tough period in November, which was characterized by European cup games.
Match rating
Oslo Volley is set for a weekend of volleyball in Nydalenhallen. I still think they will have a tough time against a high-flying TIF Viking team that is looking to take over the top of the table. I imagine Oslo Volley going out hard and maybe winning the first set, but the question is whether they can keep the pressure on for an entire match, as you have to when facing TIF Viking.
I think this will be tough for Oslo Volley, and that we will see an experienced TIF Viking team that plays controlled and effective in attack.
Prediction: TIF VIking 3-1
Randaberg – NTNUI
Match time: 4:30 PM
Randaberg is in seventh place with ten points and is well in the fight for a playoff spot, as the teams fighting for a place in the playoff are evenly matched. They are five points behind NTNUI, who are in the relegation zone with five points. So it's up to Randaberg to pick up as many points as possible to secure a place in the playoff this year.
NTNUI, as mentioned, is in a very poor position with five points and is in a relegation zone. This does not look promising for NTNUI, and the question is whether it will be the nail in the coffin this weekend when they play a double game against Randaberg on Saturday and TVN at Sand on Sunday.
Match rating
This is a game NTNUI must win to keep alive their hopes of staying in the Mizuno League. I think it will be tough, especially when it seems that Randaberg has started to find form after they have several key players back.
Prediction: Randaberg 3-1
Mizuno League Saturday February 7th, men
OSI – TIF VIKING
Match time Sat: 13:300
Since OSI won the first game of the season against Randaberg at home on October 11, there have been nine straight losses in the Mizuno League, with the exception of a 2–3 game against Førde right after New Year's. This makes it look very scary for OSI in terms of survival in the Mizuno League. Can they surprise this weekend against TIF Viking? In the opposite match, they managed to take one set.
TIF Viking are coming off a 1–3 home loss to Førde two weeks ago heading into the doubleheader in the capital this weekend. They are well aware that every point counts in the battle for a playoff spot, as it looks like it will be a close call between fourth, fifth and sixth place, which will give them a place in the playoff. TIF Viking are thus entering an exciting weekend in the capital and they are favourites against OSI on Saturday.
Match rating
I think we can have a more even match than the table suggests. OSI has shown lately that they are capable of being in the matches, but they are still missing the last little thing needed to secure points. Nevertheless, this could be a match where they manage to get a result.
Against a TIF Viking team that may underestimate them at home, OSI can keep up well over time. If they can keep the pressure on serve and be disciplined in their own game, it is certainly possible that they will take a point from this match.
Prediction: TIF Viking 3-2
Randaberg – NTNUI
Match time: 2:00 PM
Randaberg has had a rollercoaster season, with losses against OSI and a win against Koll, who have dominated the Mizuno League in recent years. They are somewhat exposed in the fight for a playoff spot, since they have played more games than the teams around them in the table. This is therefore a very important game for Randaberg, where they need to get points to avoid stressing about securing enough points for the playoffs.
This is especially important considering that this is a six-point game against NTNUI, who are four points behind and have played one less game. Randaberg must enter the match and exploit the home field advantage.
NTNUI has had a weak start to the season, with only one point in three games. The point came at home against Koll in a 2–3 loss. Otherwise, there have been two losses against Øksil in the last two rounds of the Mizuno League. The question is whether NTNUI can finally get their first win in 2026. They will have two opportunities to do so, as they also travel to Sand after this match.
Match rating
When NTNUI is away, you have to look at the squad they have with them to be able to make a comprehensive assessment of the team. It is no secret that NTNUI appears as two different teams with and without Sigrid Festøy on the field. Nevertheless, they face a strong Randaberg team at home, who have three wins in their last four games.
Regardless of which version of NTNUI starts, it is likely to be a tough task against this Randaberg team.
Prediction: Randaberg 3-1
Øksil – Førde
Match time: 17:00
Øksil has started 2026 with two strong victories against NTNUI, both away and at home. The away match against NTNUI was particularly impressive. There they lost 25–13 in the first set, before turning the game around and winning 3–1 after set victories of 29–27, 27–25 and 25–23. Øksil therefore enters this match with a great deal of self-confidence, and the home crowd is hungry for more victories in Øksneshallen.
Førde has only lost one match in this year's Mizuno League and is in second place, just one point behind BK Tromsø, with one match less played. This means Førde can take over first place in the Mizuno League with a win in Øksneshallen. It will be exciting to see what squad they field, considering the long journey, as this is the heaviest away trip the teams have in the Mizuno League.
Match review
Here I think we get the surprise of the round, with Øksil taking the win against Førde at home. At home, Øksil can beat all the teams in the Mizuno League. With the game Øksil has shown the last two weekends, I actually think Førde is not looking forward to the long trip north.
If there is a loss here, it could be a long and difficult journey home for Førde, with a defeat in their luggage.
Prediction: Ax wins 3-2
Mizuno League Sunday February 8th women
Collection – TIF Viking
Match time: 5:00 PM
Koll currently leads the Mizuno League, but it is incredibly close, and every single point is very important in the fight to win this year's league. Koll has been almost unstoppable so far this season, with the exception of the away trip to Stavanger, where they suffered two losses. They come into this match with a lot of confidence after the Oslo derby two weeks ago, where they lost the first set to Oslo Volley, but won the next three sets 25–21, 25–13 and 25–14.
After TIF Viking lost their season opener against this weekend's opponent Koll, they have won six games in a row in the Mizuno League. We can therefore expect TIF Viking to win the Mizuno League again this year. With the knowledge that they will first meet Oslo Volley in this round, it will be exciting to see how much energy they put into that match.
Match rating
This will probably be the closest and most exciting match on the women's side in the Mizuno League this round. Here we meet a TIF Viking team eager for revenge after the 1–3 loss at home against Koll. It looks like a match characterized by long and intense exchanges of balls, with high quality in both defense and attack from both teams.
Much can be decided by patience and the ability to keep the pressure on over time, especially in the serve and reception game. Both teams have players who can decide on their own, but also collective strength that can tip even sets in their favor. In the end, I still think it is TIF Viking who manages to pull the longest straw and come away with the victory.
Prediction: TIF Viking 3-1
Mizuno League Men's February 8th
Collection – TIF VIking
Match time: 2:00 PM
Koll comes into this match with two wins and a 2–3 loss at home against BK Tromsø, and is currently in third place. The challenge is that Koll is the team that has played the most matches among the top teams in the Mizuno League, and thus they are dependent on taking points in this match to keep up with the fight for a top two position. The question is how the squad looks heading into this match, as they have fielded different starting sixes after the New Year.
TIF Viking comes into the match against Koll with a fight in their legs. So the question becomes whether they have used a lot of energy in the match against OSI, or whether they have managed to optimize the weekend and have enough surplus going into this match.
Match rating
What can we expect from this weekend's final match in the Mizuno League, the match in Kringsjøhallen between Koll and TIF Viking? I think this could be a five-setter, with five close sets where the teams follow each other all the way, and where small margins become decisive. We are set to see more fantastic performances on both sides of the net, both in defense and attack.
The match can quickly become characterized by high intensity in the serve pressure and long rallies, where the teams test each other's patience and stability in reception and sideout play. Koll has shown that they are strong in the decisive phases of the sets, especially on home court, while TIF Viking often plays with high tempo and aggressiveness in attack.
In the end, I still think it's Koll who draws the longest straw. With TIF Viking coming into the match with one game left, energy and precision could be crucial in a possible fifth set.
Prediction: Koll wins 3-2
