# 2018–19 Eliteserien (women's handball)

The 2018–19 Eliteserien is the 52nd season of the Eliteserien, Norway's premier handball league.

## Team information

A total of 12 teams will be participating in the 2018/19 edition of Eliteserien. 9 teams were qualified directly from the 2017/18 season. The two top ranked teams from the First Division, Fana and Skrim Kongsberg, and third-place finisher Rælingen HK who defeated Sola HK in the relegation playoff were promoted to the Eliteserien.
| Team | Town | Arena | Capacity | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Byåsen Elite | Trondheim | Trondheim Spektrum | 3400 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Fana | Bergen | Fana Arena | 1206 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Fredrikstad BK | Fredrikstad | Kongstenhallen | 1500 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Gjerpen IF | Skien | Skienshallen | 2800 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Larvik HK | Larvik | Boligmappa Arena Larvik | 4500 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Molde Elite | Molde | Molde Arena | 2000 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Oppsal | Oslo | Oppsal Arena | 5000 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Rælingen HK | Rælingen | Marikollhallen | | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Skrim Kongsberg | Kongsberg | Kongsberghallen | | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Storhamar Elite | Hamar | Boligpartner Arena | 1650 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Tertnes Elite | Bergen | Haukelandshallen | 5000 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |
| Vipers Kristiansand | Kristiansand | Aquarama | 2200 | ByåsenFanaFredrikstadGjerpenLarvikMoldeOppsalRælingenSkrimStorhamarTertnesKristiansandclass=notpageimage| Clubs locations in Norway | FanaTertnesclass=notpageimage| Location of Bergen teams |

## Regular season
### Standings

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Vipers Kristiansand | 22 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 722 | 465 | +257 | 42 | Championship play-offs + advance to Champions League |
| 2 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 22 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 633 | 525 | +108 | 33 | Championship play-offs |
| 3 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | 22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 573 | 507 | +66 | 31 | Championship play-offs |
| 4 | Larvik HK | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 583 | 513 | +70 | 27 | Championship play-offs |
| 5 | Fredrikstad BK | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 575 | 551 | +24 | 27 | Championship play-offs |
| 6 | Byåsen HE | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 577 | 564 | +13 | 25 | Championship play-offs |
| 7 | Molde Elite | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 539 | 541 | −2 | 23 | Championship play-offs |
| 8 | Oppsal | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 550 | 602 | −52 | 16 | Championship play-offs |
| 9 | Fana | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 561 | 627 | −66 | 11 | |
| 10 | Gjerpen HK Skien | 22 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 520 | 615 | −95 | 10 | Play-off against the third team from First Division |
| 11 | Skrim Kongsberg | 22 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 519 | 685 | −166 | 10 | Relegated to First Division |
| 12 | Rælingen HK | 22 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 509 | 666 | −157 | 9 | Relegated to First Division |

### Results

In the table below the home teams are listed on the left and the away teams along the top.
| Home \ Away | BYÅ | FAN | FBK | GJE | LHK | MOL | OPP | RHK | SKR | STO | TER | VIP |
| Byåsen Elite | | 24–24 | 25–27 | 32–24 | 21–28 | 32–29 | 28–25 | 35–25 | 38–27 | 23–31 | 16–20 | 18–32 |
| Fana | 22–28 | | 23–34 | 26–24 | 20–19 | 20–25 | 28–25 | 27–23 | 27–28 | 22–35 | 22–25 | 25–36 |
| Fredrikstad BK | 20–28 | 29–28 | | 33–19 | 26–24 | 28–24 | 33–23 | 32–24 | 34–18 | 21–27 | 24–19 | 19–34 |
| Gjerpen HK Skien | 20–29 | 31–30 | 21–22 | | 23–28 | 18–26 | 30–34 | 33–20 | 23–18 | 18–27 | 22–25 | 22–34 |
| Larvik HK | 26–29 | 21–18 | 28–26 | 37–24 | | 23–19 | 31–18 | 31–19 | 36–19 | 28–28 | 29–25 | 24–25 |
| Molde Elite | 21–21 | 28–27 | 20–21 | 21–26 | 24–27 | | 25–22 | 26–26 | 37–29 | 23–28 | 28–28 | 25–19 |
| Oppsal | 22–27 | 29–27 | 23–28 | 23–18 | 21–32 | 21–23 | | 22–18 | 34–28 | 28–34 | 29–24 | 21–29 |
| Rælingen HK | 29–29 | 24–37 | 33–29 | 25–19 | 20–34 | 20–27 | 24–30 | | 27–27 | 11–34 | 23–25 | 31–45 |
| Skrim Kongsberg | 28–31 | 29–27 | 27–27 | 19–32 | 24–21 | 22–23 | 35–34 | 20–28 | | 19–33 | 23–44 | 22–34 |
| Storhamar Håndball Elite | 27–25 | 40–31 | 23–19 | 43–30 | 23–22 | 23–24 | 22–23 | 36–25 | 32–19 | | 22–15 | 19–30 |
| Tertnes Håndball Elite | 29–18 | 29–24 | 27–23 | 26–24 | 28–15 | 27–22 | 21–20 | 31–20 | 32–21 | 29–28 | | 20–22 |
| Vipers Kristiansand | 28–20 | 41–26 | 33–20 | 37–19 | 33–19 | 33–19 | 37–23 | 37–14 | 31–17 | 40–18 | 32–24 | |

## Championship playoffs

Best of three format is applied in all playoff stages, with the higher seeded team playing the second and third game (if necessary) at home. If a game ended with a draw after the regular time, it will proceed to two 5-minutes periods of extra time. If there is still a draw, another 2 × 5-minutes extra time will be played. If the scores are still level after two extra times, the winners are decided by a 7-meter shootout.
Top ranked teams from the regular season choose their opponents in the quarterfinal and semifinal stages. The remaining two highest ranked teams after the quarterfinal stage can not meet in the semifinals.

### Bracket

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Vipers Kristiansand | 34 | 44 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Oppsal | 22 | 28 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Oppsal | 22 | 28 | | 1 | Vipers Kristiansand | 39 | 34 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Larvik HK | 9 | 17 | | | | | |
| 7 | Molde Elite | 24 | 17 | 22 | 4 | Larvik HK | 9 | 17 | | | | | |
| 4 | Larvik HK | 21 | 21 | 24 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Larvik HK | 21 | 21 | 24 | | | | | | 1 | Vipers Kristiansand | 42 | 24 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 40 | 23 |
| 3 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | 37 | 24 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 40 | 23 |
| 5 | Fredrikstad BK | 28 | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5 | Fredrikstad BK | 28 | 20 | | 3 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | 23 | 33 | 22 | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 25 | 30 | 33 | | | | |
| 6 | Byåsen Elite | 21 | 26 | | 2 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 25 | 30 | 33 | | | | |
| 2 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 26 | 29 | | | | | | | | | | |

### Quarterfinals

| 23 April 18:30 | Vipers Kristiansand | 34–22 | Oppsal | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1030 Referees: Varlo, Dasic |
| 23 April 18:30 | Kristiansen 6 | (15–13) | Eklo 7 | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1030 Referees: Varlo, Dasic |
| 23 April 18:30 | 2× 2× | Report | 1× 2× | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1030 Referees: Varlo, Dasic |
| 26 April 18:30 | Oppsal | 28–44 | Vipers Kristiansand | Oppsal Arena, Oslo Attendance: 377 Referees: Larsen, Johannessen |
| 26 April 18:30 | Aune 9 | (13–19) | Sulland, Tomac 7 | Oppsal Arena, Oslo Attendance: 377 Referees: Larsen, Johannessen |
| 26 April 18:30 | 2× 1× | Report | 2× | Oppsal Arena, Oslo Attendance: 377 Referees: Larsen, Johannessen |
Vipers Kristiansand won series, 2–0.
| 23 April 18:00 | Larvik HK | 21–24 | Molde Elite | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 223 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 23 April 18:00 | Molid, Rivas Toft 5 | (12–14) | Dahl 9 | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 223 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 23 April 18:00 | 2× 6× | Report | 2× 2× | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 223 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 26 April 20:00 | Molde Elite | 17–21 | Larvik HK | Molde Arena, Molde Attendance: 1205 Referees: Fjeldskår, Fjellvang |
| 26 April 20:00 | Dahl 5 | (10–10) | Molid 6 | Molde Arena, Molde Attendance: 1205 Referees: Fjeldskår, Fjellvang |
| 26 April 20:00 | 2× 2× | Report | 2× 2× | Molde Arena, Molde Attendance: 1205 Referees: Fjeldskår, Fjellvang |
| 28 April 15:00 | Larvik HK | 24–22 | Molde Elite | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 428 Referees: Johannessen, Larsen |
| 28 April 15:00 | Bergum 10 | (12–10) | Obaidli 5 | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 428 Referees: Johannessen, Larsen |
| 28 April 15:00 | 2× 1× | Report | 2× | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 428 Referees: Johannessen, Larsen |
Larvik HK won series, 2–1.
| 23 April 18:30 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | 37–28 | Fredrikstad BK | Haukelandshallen, Bergen Attendance: 479 Referees: Larsen, Johannessen |
| 23 April 18:30 | Sørheim 6 | (15–15) | Christiansen 6 | Haukelandshallen, Bergen Attendance: 479 Referees: Larsen, Johannessen |
| 23 April 18:30 | 3× 4× | Report | 3× 1× | Haukelandshallen, Bergen Attendance: 479 Referees: Larsen, Johannessen |
| 26 April 18:00 | Fredrikstad BK | 20–24 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | Kongstenhallen, Fredrikstad Attendance: 307 Referees: Larsen, Launes |
| 26 April 18:00 | Groa 4 | (11–13) | Stankiewicz 6 | Kongstenhallen, Fredrikstad Attendance: 307 Referees: Larsen, Launes |
| 26 April 18:00 | 3× 1× | Report | 1× 1× | Kongstenhallen, Fredrikstad Attendance: 307 Referees: Larsen, Launes |
Tertnes Håndball Elite won series, 2–0.
| 23 April 18:30 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 26–21 | Byåsen Elite | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 743 Referees: Martinsen, Tekaya |
| 23 April 18:30 | Løke 9 | (10–10) | Aardahl 4 | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 743 Referees: Martinsen, Tekaya |
| 23 April 18:30 | 1× 2× | Report | 2× 5× | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 743 Referees: Martinsen, Tekaya |
| 26 April 18:00 | Byåsen Elite | 26–29 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | Trondheim Spektrum, Trondheim Attendance: 459 Referees: Dasic, Varlo |
| 26 April 18:00 | Alstad 9 | (15–13) | Skinnehaugen, Venn 6 | Trondheim Spektrum, Trondheim Attendance: 459 Referees: Dasic, Varlo |
| 26 April 18:00 | 3× 5× | Report | 1× 4× | Trondheim Spektrum, Trondheim Attendance: 459 Referees: Dasic, Varlo |
Storhamar Håndball Elite won series, 2–0.

### Semifinals

| 1 May 17:00 | Vipers Kristiansand | 39–9 | Larvik HK | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1110 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 1 May 17:00 | Olsen 6 | (20–3) | Løwe 3 | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1110 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 1 May 17:00 | 2× | Report | 1× 1× | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1110 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 3 May 18:00 | Larvik HK | 17–34 | Vipers Kristiansand | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 243 Referees: Johannessen, Larsen |
| 3 May 18:00 | Ramberg 8 | (9–17) | Refsnes 8 | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 243 Referees: Johannessen, Larsen |
| 3 May 18:00 | | Report | | Boligmappa Arena, Larvik Attendance: 243 Referees: Johannessen, Larsen |
Vipers Kristiansand won series, 2–0.
| 1 May 16:00 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 25–23 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 910 Referees: Martinsen, Tekaya |
| 1 May 16:00 | Løke 7 | (13–11) | Solås 4 | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 910 Referees: Martinsen, Tekaya |
| 1 May 16:00 | 2× 2× | Report | 1× 1× | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 910 Referees: Martinsen, Tekaya |
| 4 May 18:15 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | 33–30 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | Fana Arena, Bergen Attendance: 721 Referees: Isachsen, Hell |
| 4 May 18:15 | Solås 8 | (14–16) | Venn 7 | Fana Arena, Bergen Attendance: 721 Referees: Isachsen, Hell |
| 4 May 18:15 | 2× 2× | Report | 1× 2× | Fana Arena, Bergen Attendance: 721 Referees: Isachsen, Hell |
| 7 May 19:15 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 33–22 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 1012 Referees: Nygren, Borge |
| 7 May 19:15 | Riegelhuth 9 | (15–13) | Solås 5 | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 1012 Referees: Nygren, Borge |
| 7 May 19:15 | 2× 5× | Report | 2× 4× | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 1012 Referees: Nygren, Borge |
Storhamar Håndball Elite won series, 2–1.

### Finals

| 18 May 18:15 | Vipers Kristiansand | 42–40 (ET) | Storhamar Håndball Elite | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1590 Referees: Nygren, Borge |
| 18 May 18:15 | Refsnes 10 | (17–18) | Nestaker 17 | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1590 Referees: Nygren, Borge |
| 18 May 18:15 | 3× 5× 1× | Report | 2× 4× | Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1590 Referees: Nygren, Borge |
| Aquarama, Kristiansand Attendance: 1590 Referees: Nygren, Borge |||
| 21 May 19:15 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 23–24 | Vipers Kristiansand | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 1363 Referees: Isachsen, Hell |
| 21 May 19:15 | Nestaker 8 | (11–14) | Arntzen, Aune, Sulland, Reistad 4 | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 1363 Referees: Isachsen, Hell |
| 21 May 19:15 | 3× 2× | Report | 3× 3× | Boligpartner Arena, Hamar Attendance: 1363 Referees: Isachsen, Hell |
Vipers Kristiansand won the final series, 2–0.
* 2018–19 Eliteserien Champions
* Vipers Kristiansand 2nd title
* Eline Fagerheim, Katrine Lunde, Malin Aune, Carolina Morais, Karine Dahlum, Karoline Olsen, Vilde Jonassen, Sunniva Næs Andersen, Mathilde Kristensen, Pernille Wibe, Hanna Yttereng, Emilie Hegh Arntzen, Jeanett Kristiansen, Henny Reistad, Tonje Refsnes, Marta Tomac, Silje Waade, Linn Jørum Sulland (c), Josefine Intelhus
* Head coach
* Ole Gustav Gjekstad

## Awards
### All Star Team and other awards

The All Star Team and other awards were announced on 14 June 2019.
| Position | Player |
| Goalkeeper | Katrine Lunde (Vipers Kristiansand) |
| Left wing | Kristin Venn (Storhamar HE) |
| Left back | Ragnhild Valle Dahl (Molde Elite) |
| Centre back | Henny Reistad (Vipers Kristiansand) |
| Right back | Linn Jørum Sulland (Vipers Kristiansand) |
| Right wing | Malin Aune (Vipers Kristiansand) |
| Pivot | Vilde Johansen (Tertnes HE) |
| Rookie | Christine Karlsen Alver (Fana) |
| MVP | Henny Reistad (Vipers Kristiansand) |
| Player of the year | Henny Reistad (Vipers Kristiansand) |
| Host | Vipers Kristiansand |

## Season statistics
### Attendances

    As of the end of the regular season.
| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
| 1 | Vipers Kristiansand | 14,893 | 1,914 (vs. Larvik) | 977 (vs. Rælingen HK) | 1,354 | -10,99% |
| 2 | Molde Elite | 11,697 | 1,420 (vs. Vipers) | 913 (two matches) | 1,063 | -0,08% |
| 3 | Tertnes Håndball Elite | 11,191 | 2,610 (vs. Fana) | 541 (vs. Oppsal) | 1,017 | +116,88% |
| 4 | Storhamar Håndball Elite | 10,723 | 1,589 (vs. Vipers) | 611 (vs. Fana) | 975 | -14,71% |
| 5 | Fana | 8,734 | 1,103 (vs. Larvik) | 520 (vs. Skrim) | 794 | +370,08% |
| 6 | Byåsen HE | 8,455 | 1,595 (vs. Vipers) | 525 (two matches) | 769 | -40,42% |
| 7 | Fredrikstad BK | 6,682 | 1,117 (vs. Larvik) | 201 (vs. Skrim) | 607 | -22,34% |
| 8 | Larvik HK | 5,686 | 668 (vs. Gjerpen) | 381 (vs. Oppsal) | 517 | -13,82% |
| 9 | Oppsal | 4,024 | 521 (vs. Vipers) | 125 (vs. Skrim) | 366 | -28,56% |
| 10 | Rælingen HK | 3,943 | 751 (vs. Vipers) | 192 (vs. Molde) | 358 | +39,77% |
| 11 | Skrim Kongsberg | 3,391 | 470 (vs. Vipers) | 159 (vs. Fredrikstad) | 308 | +1.74% |
| 12 | Gjerpen HK Skien | 3,268 | 625 (vs. Larvik) | 121 (vs. Molde) | 297 | -33,35% |
| Total | Total | 92,677 | 2610 (Tertnes vs. Fana) | 121 (Gjerpen vs. Molde) | 702 | -8,04% |
$^1$ Teams that played last season in 1. divisjon.
Note: Attendance numbers without playoff matches.

### Number of teams by regions

| No. teams | Region | Teams |
| 3 | Øst | Fredrikstad BK, Oppsal, Rælingen HK |
| 1 | Innlandet | Storhamar Håndball Elite |
| 3 | Sør | Gjerpen HK Skien, Larvik HK, Skrim Kongsberg |
| 1 | SørVest | Vipers Kristiansand |
| 2 | Vest | Fana, Tertnes Håndball Elite |
| 2 | Nord | Byåsen Elite, Molde Elite |

## Relegation playoff

| 24 April 18:00 | Gjerpen HK Skien | 29–26 | Follo HK Damer | Skienshallen, Skien Attendance: 347 Referees: Launes, Larsen |
| 24 April 18:00 | Løvdal, Gulmark 7 | (13–8) | Magnus 6 | Skienshallen, Skien Attendance: 347 Referees: Launes, Larsen |
| 24 April 18:00 | 3× 1× | Report | 2× | Skienshallen, Skien Attendance: 347 Referees: Launes, Larsen |
| 28 April 18:00 | Follo HK Damer | 21–22 | Gjerpen HK Skien | Langhus Hallen, Ski Attendance: 502 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 28 April 18:00 | Magnus 6 | (15–9) | Løvdal 6 | Langhus Hallen, Ski Attendance: 502 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
| 28 April 18:00 | 2× 3× | Report | 2× 3× | Langhus Hallen, Ski Attendance: 502 Referees: Kvakic, Eriksen |
Gjerpen HK Skien won series, 2–0 and avoided from the relegation.