Round 14 of the Mizuno League will be played on the weekend of Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February with exciting matches in both the women's and men's classes. You can follow the Mizuno League live on MyGame, where the matches are streamed live throughout the season.
Saturday, February 21
Women – Mizuno League
- NTNUI – TIF VIking at 1:00 PM
- Øksil – Koll at 2:30 PM
- Volda – Randaberg at 17:00
Men – Mizuno League
- NTNUI – TIF Viking at 3:30 PM
- Øksil – Koll at 5:00 PM
Sunday, February 22
Women – Mizuno League
- Førde – Randaberg at 2:00 PM
Men – Mizuno League
- OSI – TIF VIKING at 2:00 PM
The women on Saturday, February 21st
NTNUI – TIF Viking
Match starts at 13:00
NTNUI still has a theoretical chance of avoiding relegation, but the likelihood of staying in the Mizuno League is very small. The team has lost eight games in a row and must go all the way back to the home game against Oslo Volley on November 8 to find their last win (3–2).
With two games left against TIF Viking both home and away and a tough away game against league gold-chasing Førde, it seems unlikely that NTNUI will be able to pick up any points in the final stretch.
TIF Viking, on the other hand, is coming off a strong 3–1 home win against Volda last weekend. Throughout the season, the team has varied in their performances. They can play very well for periods before the game suddenly stops. We saw this clearly in the second set against Volda, which they lost 16–25. Nevertheless, they are clear favorites before this weekend's match in Trondheim and still have everything in their own hands in the fight for the Mizuno League title.
Match analysis
For NTNUI to gain anything from the match, the team's most important point picker, Marte Buset (8.3 points per game), must deliver above her normal level. NTNUI depends on stable reception and effective wing play to challenge TIF Viking.
TIF Viking will likely try to neutralize NTNUI's attacking play through solid blocking and defense. If they are also successful with their serve pressure, they can control the match from start to finish.
Prediction: TIF Viking wins 3–0
Axe – Koll
Match time 2:30 PM
Øksil has six straight home wins in the Mizuno League before the meeting with Koll. The match is very important in the fight for the league title and to avoid the semifinals on the way to the Final Four. With a strong home crowd behind them and top scorer Ragni Steen Knudsen (21.5 points per game), the conditions are well set for another home win.
Koll are coming off a clear 0–3 loss away to Førde last weekend, which weakened their chances of winning the series. They are now dependent on TIF Viking giving up points in the final sprint. With Selma Tryggestad at the helm (11.4 points per game), they will still try to pick up three important points in Vesterålen.
Match analysis
This could be a showdown between Øksil's strong home record and Koll's defensive structure. Øksil will likely play with a high tempo in attack and a lot of serve pressure to break down Koll's reception.
Koll, on the other hand, must stabilize the first ball and reduce the error rate. If they can curb Ragni Steen Knudsen's point production through blocking and defense, the game could be even.
Prediction: Axeman wins 3–1
Volda – Randaberg (the battle for the last playoff spot)
Match time 17:00
Volda has picked up 7 out of 12 possible points at home this season, and it is precisely at home that they must deliver at the end of the season to reach the playoffs. Otherwise, qualifying games await to avoid relegation.
The key player for Volda is Edna Todorova, who is averaging an impressive 21.8 points per game. The team's playoff hopes depend largely on her continuing her great play.
Randaberg started the season weakly with five straight losses, but now has five wins in the last seven games. The fear of relegation is gone, and the focus is now fully on a playoff spot. With Kaia Markhus (16.2 points per game) and Wilde Jakobsen back after the New Year, the team enters an important double away game against Volda and Førde.
Match analysis
This is a match with enormous importance for the playoff match. Volda will likely focus heavily on serve pressure to disrupt Randaberg's rhythm. If they also get good production from Todorova, they can take control of the match.
Randaberg, on the other hand, must use the routine of the team and establish a solid blocking and defense system to stop Volda's attacking play. This could be an even match with big swings.
Prediction: Volda wins 3–2
Men - Saturday 21 February
NTNUI – TIF Viking
Match time 15:30
It is likely that NTNUI will have to play qualification to avoid relegation from the Mizuno League. If they are to have a realistic chance of reaching the playoffs, they must win the last home game of the season against TIF Viking, who are four points ahead of them. An additional challenge is that NTNUI have played two more games than their opponent.
Sigurd Festøy, who averages 19.8 points per game, has yet to have a truly top game this season. If he finds his peak level, as he did against Koll last year with over 40 points. Then it could be difficult to beat NTNUI.
TIF Viking has had a mediocre season after the playoff spot last year and is in fifth place with 16 points, but with the fewest games played. They will not reach the top two, but could be a dangerous contender in the semi-final game. If Eirik Bjelland (13.8 points per game) continues his great play, the team could have a strong season finish.
Match analysis
Historically, TIF Viking has had a clear advantage over NTNUI with several strong wins in the Mizuno League. Nevertheless, NTNUI can exploit the home crowd and high risk in serve to put pressure on Viking.
And is this the last home game for Sigurd Festøy in an NTNUI jersey?
Prediction: NTNUI wins 3-2
Axe – Koll
Match time at 17:00
Last weekend, Øksil lost the battle for Northern Norway against BK Tromsø, despite winning the first set 26–24. This means Øksil have lost two straight home games and are in a difficult position in the fight to avoid relegation. The team now risks qualifying, and this makes this weekend's match a very important home game where they should get points.
After losing 2–3 at home to BK Tromsø on January 25, Koll have bounced back strongly with three straight wins. A particularly impressive performance was last weekend, when they beat Førde 3–1 away. The result keeps alive their hopes of a top two finish and direct qualification to the Final Four.
Now a long journey awaits them to Vesterålen to face Øksil in Øksneshallen. The big question before the weekend is which squad Koll will field. The team selection could be decisive in whether they take points from the match.
Match analysis
As mentioned, it is particularly exciting to see which squad Koll fields. Regardless of the team selection, it will always be demanding to meet Øksil in Øksneshallen, where the home team often plays with high intensity and gets a lot of energy from the crowd.
Øksil is expected to go hard in all phases of the game, especially in serve and defense, to put pressure on Koll from the start. For the home team, it will be important to stay focused on their own game and avoid spending too much energy on external factors such as referee decisions or frustration in the heat of the match.
For Koll, it's about utilizing the team's greatest strengths: pace in the attacking game and effective first-tempo attacks. If they manage to play quickly and variedly, they can create great challenges for Øksil's block defense. In addition, serve pressure could be a decisive factor, especially in breaking Øksil's rhythm in the sideout game.
If Koll field the same team and level as in the away win against Førde, they will appear as favorites in the match. The starting point is therefore that Koll will come to Vesterålen with a strong squad and good opportunities to control the match.
Prediction: Koll wins 3–1
Women Sunday, February 22
Forde – Randaberg
Match time at 2:00 PM
Førde enters this weekend knowing that they are only three points behind league leaders Koll, while having played one less game. With a 3–0 win against Randaberg and Koll losing to Øksil on Saturday, they will take over first place in the Mizuno League. With four straight home wins so far this season, they are big favorites against Randaberg, who have already played one game this weekend before the meeting with Førde.
For Randaberg it will be exciting to see how much energy and performance they put into the match against Volda the day before. If Randaberg got a good result there, they can go into this match with their shoulders down. If they lose, however, it will be important to get points from Førde to avoid qualifying games to keep their place.
Match analysis
I think we will see a Førde team that comes out and dominates from the first ball. They will face a Randaberg team that comes with both travel and an extra match in their legs, which could affect both the pace and stability of the game.
Førde also has greater physical strength, a higher tempo in the attacking game and better serve pressure, which will probably give them control of the match from the start and make it difficult for Randaberg to establish their game.
Prediction: Førde wins 3-0
Men Sunday February 22
OSI – TIF Viking
Match time at 2:00 PM
Since OSI won the first game of the season against Randaberg at home on October 11, there have been eleven 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 comes from Tronheim to this match in the capital. They are well aware that every point is important in the fight for a playoff spot, since it looks like it will be a tie between fourth, fifth and sixth place, which gives a place in the playoff. TIF Viking thus enters an exciting match in the capital and they are favorites 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 wins 3-1
MyGame – the place to watch the Mizuno League
You can watch the Mizuno League live on mygame.com, where you can access exciting volleyball matches from the Mizuno League on the women's and men's side. 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. With good picture quality and easy access, you can experience the intensity, pace and drama of Norwegian top volleyball no matter where you are. Whether you are a player, coach or volleyball enthusiast, mygame.com gives you a unique opportunity to follow the Mizuno League closely. Here you can watch both highlights and full matches, and catch up on everything that happens throughout the volleyball season.
