– It was tough today too, but still a little easier. I realized they didn’t serve me. If they do that, they will win, Anders Mol told NRK.

Mol points to the fact that she has dropped a lot after a throat infection the week before the EC.

– It would be good to have a rest day, he continued.

Mol and Sørum opened the EC with a win over Israel on Tuesday and played for a group win and an immediate place in the play-offs against Sweden.

They secured it with set numbers 22-20, 21-16. Mol struggled with a sore throat ahead of the game and stated that her legs were shaking after Tuesday’s opening game.

Ahead of Wednesday’s game, coach Kåre Mol revealed he had suggested giving a walkover to give his son Anders more rest, but the two decided to compete for a place in the last 16.

Mol said before the game that he was feeling better than Tuesday, and he showed early that that was the case. He gave Sweden a good fight at the net and scored some Norwegian points.

Good on the net

After a steady start, Norway increased their lead by four points to 16-12. However, the Swedish duo did not give up there and fought their way back to 20-20. Two points Norway still secure the winning set with 22-20.

The second set was even before Norway again proved strong in the end. They ended up winning with numbers 21-16 and could immediately encourage a place in the play-offs.

– We made too many mistakes to win the game, Jonathan Hellvig told NRK.

The duo are chasing their fifth consecutive EC title.

– It’s much better than Tuesday. Now they have registered for the championship, said coach Kåre Mol.

Mathias Berntsen and Hendrik Mol will play a play-off on Thursday to reach the last 16 after winning in straight sets over Israeli pair Eylon Elazar/Amiram Ohana on Wednesday.

Replay

Team 2 Norway Berntsen and Mol lost to hman and Hellvig on Tuesday, and thus need to win against Israel on Wednesday if there are further games in the championship in Munich.

At best, they can finish third, which gives them a replay for the last 16. The group winners will automatically qualify for the round of 16, while the second and third places must qualify for the replay round.

Berntsen and Mol secured third place with good play. They quickly took the lead comfortably and won the first set 21-12. The second set opened with Norway’s three points before Israel came back to level at 10-10.

The set remained a draw until the end and ended with the Norwegian set winning 21-18.

– We have been playing well in the last few weeks and months, and the level is getting more stable. We look forward to new challenges, said Berntsen.

The fight to reach the last 16 will be played on Thursday. It will be against the group runners-up.