Round 9 of the Mizuno League will be played on the weekend of Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th January , with exciting matches in both the women's and men's classes.
Saturday, January 10
Women – Mizuno League
- NTNUI – Meeting at 3:30 PM
Men – Mizuno League
- NTNUI – Meeting at 12:30
- Førde – Randaberg at 4:00 PM
- BK Tromsø – Øksil at 16:00
Sunday, January 11
Women – Mizuno League
- TIF Viking – Randaberg at 15:00
- Førde – Volda at 4:00 PM
Men – Mizuno League
- TIF Viking – Randaberg
The women – Mizuno League
NTNUI – Koll
Match time: 15:30
NTNUI took the Christmas break after three straight losses and are currently in last place in the Mizuno League with five points. They have to go all the way back to November 8th to find their last win, when they won 3–2 against Oslo Volley. The positive for NTNUI is that the league is even, and there are only six points up from third place, which is currently held by Oslo Volley.
Koll has had a fantastic first part of the season in the Mizuno League, with six straight wins. They are in second place with the same number of points as Førde, but with a two-set set difference. However, just before the Christmas break, things didn't go quite as planned on an away trip to Stavanger, where they lost 0–3 against Randaberg, a team that has started to get things going. In addition, there was a bitter 1–3 loss against TVN. It should be said that Koll struggled with some injuries during this period and did not travel with a full squad. Nevertheless, they can be very satisfied with the first part of the season, and I can safely throw out my table tip from before the start of the season when it comes to Koll.
NTNUI – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- NTNUI – Axe 0–3
- NTNUI – Førde 0–3
- NTNUI – Randaberg 1–3
Koll – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- TVN – Koll 3–1
- Randaberg – Koll 3–0
- Volda – Collection 2–3
An NTNUI team that needs to start winning games to avoid relegation to the 1st division – have they used the Christmas break well? At the same time, we have a Koll team that has been fantastic in the first part of the season. Will they be able to follow up after Christmas, and have they got back players who have been out with injuries? Here I think we will have a closer match than the table suggests. The advantage lies with Koll in terms of table position and number of players, but we know that NTNUI at home can take points against anyone in the Mizuno League.
Prediction: Koll wins 1–3
Men – Mizuno League
NTNUI – Koll
Match time: 12:30 PM
NTNUI has 9 points after three wins and four losses in the Mizuno League regular season, which places them in 6th place in the table. The team is well placed to secure a place in the playoffs. NTNUI has shown solid form at home, and as usual, Sigrud Festøy is the team's most important point picker, with a total of 186 points so far this season.
Koll entered the season with ambitions and the slogan "Hele Norges lokomotiv". After the regular season in the Mizuno League, Koll is in 3rd place with 15 points, and is thus in a good position to fight for the league gold for the third year in a row. The end before Christmas, however, was demanding, with an exit from the European game after the Golden Set and only one win in the last four games in the Mizuno League. The question is whether "Hele Norges lokomotiv" has lost any momentum?
NTNUI – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- NTNUI – BK Tromsø 1–3
- NTNUI – Randaberg 3–0
- NTNUI – OSI 3–0
Koll – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- TVN – Collection 1–3
- Randaberg – Koll 3–0
- Koll – Førde 0–3
There is excitement surrounding which Koll team will be in Trondheim. Will it be an injury-prone team, or has Koll got key players back after the Christmas break, such as Øystein Schierning? At the same time, NTNUI will be looking for its third home win of the season in the Mizuno League.
Everything is set for an even and exciting volleyball match in the Mizuno League. Considering Koll's varying form before Christmas, NTNUI may have a good chance of securing the victory on home soil.
Prediction: NTNUI wins 3–2
Forde – Randaberg
Match time: 4:00 PM
Førde ended the 2025 volleyball season with a controlled 3–0 home win against OSI, a win that sent the Sunnfjord team into the Christmas break at the top of the Mizuno League. The team won six times and only lost once in the first half of the season, a narrow 2–3 loss away to BK Tromsø. Førde has probably used the Christmas break well for training, especially considering that they will play the cup final against BK Tromsø next week.
Randaberg has had a mixed first half of the Mizunoligaen 2025/2026 season. The team has shown a high level of performance, including a strong 3–0 win against Koll, but also unexpected defeats, such as a 0–3 away loss to newly promoted OSI. Nevertheless, Randaberg is well placed to secure a place in the playoffs when the regular season is complete.
Førde – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- Forde – OSI 3–0
- Koll – Førde 0–3
- OSI – Førde 2–3
Randaberg – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- Randaberg – Koll 3–0
- Randaberg – TIF Viking 3–0
- NTNUI – Randaberg 3–0
In this match we face a Førde team that appears well prepared after the Christmas break and who are clear favorites at home. With the cup final just around the corner, Førde will also want to build on their strong form.
Randaberg enters the match with little to lose and can play with their shoulders down. They have already shown this season that they can deliver very good volleyball, including in the win against Koll.
Still, it is difficult to ignore Førde's stability and quality over time.
Prediction: Førde – Randaberg 3–1
BK Tromsø – Øksil | The Battle for Northern Norway
Match time: 4:00 PM
Everything is set for a real battle for Northern Norway when BK Tromsø takes on Øksil in Tromsøhallen. This is a prestigious match in the Mizuno League that means a little extra – both on the table and in the stands.
BK Tromsø entered the season with a new head coach in Tauno Lipp, and the response has been immediate. The Tromsø team has delivered a very strong first half of the Mizuno League and is in 2nd place with 16 points, only two points behind league leader Førde. In addition, BK Tromsø has secured a place in its third straight cup final. At the end of October, the team also received an important boost when Petter Østvik returned after a short adventure abroad in India.
Øksil had a tough start to this year's Mizuno League, but ended the year in the best possible way with two straight home wins. This has lifted the team up to 7th place with 6 points, and a playoff spot is still within reach. Øksil has also received reinforcements, as Mathias Loftesnes recently returned to the club after a short stay in India.
BK Tromsø – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- NTNUI – BK Tromsø 1–3
- BK Tromsø – Koll 3–2
- Randaberg – BK Tromsø 1–3
Øksil – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- Axe – OSI 3-0
- Øksil – Randaberg 3-0
- TIF Viking – Øksil 3-0
Friday, January 10th, the stage is set for a heated Northern Norwegian derby in Tromsøhallen. Here, the audience can expect high intensity, long and spectacular exchanges of balls, players who give their all in every duel – and an engaged home crowd that sets the mood from the first point. In such matches, every point means a little more than usual.
BK Tromsø has probably used the Christmas break well in preparing for the cup final next weekend, but Øksil has hardly been idle. Everything points to an energetic and dramatic volleyball match in the Mizuno League, and it is not inconceivable that the match could go all the way to five sets.
Prediction: BK Tromsø – Øksil 3–1
Sunday round in the Mizuno League
The women
TIF Viking – Randaberg
Match time: 3:00 PM
TIF Viking is coming off a historic treble-winning season in 2025, but heading into this year's Mizuno League it hasn't been entirely smooth sailing from the start. Nevertheless, the team has found its rhythm throughout the season and is currently in 4th place with 10 points after only five games played. After a tough match schedule before Christmas, with both European Cup games, cup games and league games, the Christmas break may have been useful for recharging the batteries and building new energy.
Randaberg had a challenging start to the 2025/2026 Mizuno League, partly due to injuries to several key players. However, in the last games before Christmas, the team got Wilde Jakobsen back from injury, which has given a clear boost to their performance. Randaberg finished the year strongly with seven points out of a possible nine in the last three games, and is now in a qualifying place to avoid relegation, with a total of 7 points.
TIF Viking – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- TVN – TIF Viking 0–3
- Randaberg – TIF Viking 2–3
- TIF Viking – Oslo Volley 3–2
Randaberg – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- Randaberg – Koll 3–0
- Randaberg – TIF Viking 2–3
- NTNUI – Randaberg 1–3
The teams met earlier in the season in Randaberghallen, where TIF Viking eventually ran away with a strong 3–2 victory. The question is whether we can expect an equally even and exciting matchup when the teams meet again in the first game of the year in 2026.
Everything points to a close and entertaining volleyball match in the Mizuno League for women.
Prediction: TIF Viking – Randaberg 3–2
Forde – Volda
Match time: 4:00 PM
Førde leads the Mizuno League after half a season with 17 points. The team has six wins and only one loss so far this season, a 0–3 loss away to Koll. In addition, the cup final awaits next weekend, and this match gives Førde an excellent opportunity to play in shape after the New Year and at the same time build towards the cup final.
Volda opened this year's Mizuno League strongly with a convincing 3–0 win against Øksil. It should be noted that Øksil arrived at the match after a demanding 18-hour journey with several cancelled flights. Volda is currently in 6th place with 7 points, but still has a good chance of fighting for a place in the playoffs later in the season.
Førde – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- Førde – Oslo Volley 3–0
- NTNUI – Førde 0–3
- Oslo Volley – Førde 0–3
Volda – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- Volda – Oslo Volleyball 1–3
- Volda – Collection 2–3
- Axe – Volda 3–0
The question is whether we will see a Førde team that has used the Christmas break well to maintain its form, with a view to the cup final which will be played next weekend, and which can at the same time extend its winning streak in the series.
Volda has shown that they can perform at a high level, something they have already proven several times this season. With Edna Vladislavova at the helm, who is averaging an impressive 19.7 points per game, Volda has an offensive weapon that can cause problems for any team in the Mizuno League.
Nevertheless, Førde are clear favorites at home and should have good chances to secure three new points.
Prediction: Førde wins 3–1
Men - Sunday 12 January | The Mizuno League
TIF Viking – Randaberg
Match time at 16:00
TIF Viking has delivered a solid first half of the Mizuno League and stands with 12 points, which places the Bergen team in a strong 4th place. The team is safely in the playoffs, and considering the replacements that were made from last season, it is impressive to see how the ranks of TIF Viking are working.
Randaberg will have a tough start to this match. They play an away game against Førde the day before, before continuing with a drive from Førde to Bergen on Saturday. It could quickly take its toll both physically and mentally when they face a well-rested TIF Viking team.
TIF Viking – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- TIF Viking – OSI 3–1
- TVN – TIF Viking 1–3
- Randaberg – TIF Viking 3–0
Randaberg – last three matches in the Mizuno League
- Førde – Randaberg (played January 10)
- Randaberg – Koll 3–0
- NTNUI – Randaberg 3–0
This will be the first match of the year for TIF Viking, and it will be exciting to see if they can build on the winning streak they started just before the Christmas break. The Bergen team also has a clear starting point in this match, as Randaberg comes with tired legs and heads after the match the day before.
Everything indicates that TIF Viking has good chances to take control at home.
Prediction: TIF Viking – Randaberg 3–0
