Mikko Oivanen

Personal information
Full name	Mikko Oivanen
Born	26 May 1986 (1986-05-26) (age 25) Huittinen
Height	1.99 m (6 ft 6 in)
Volleyball information
Position	opposite
Current club	Resovia Rzeszów
Career
Years Clubs 2004-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2010 Raision Loimu Rovaniemen Santasport Kastamonu Belediyesi Resovia Rzeszów
National team
4 year	Finland

Mikko Oivanen (born 26 May 1986 in Huittinen) is a Finnish professional volleyball player who plays for Polish volleyball league club Resovia Rzeszów^[1] and Finnish national team.

Career

Early career

Oivanen started his career with his brother Matti in Kiikoisten Kirma. Soon Finnish youth national team's coach picks him to youth national team. Mikko moved with his brother to Kuortane and started studying in local high school. Same time he trained with youth national team.

On his last high school year Mikko played few games with his brother Matti in Vammalan Lentopallo that is competing in Finnish championleague. In 2004 he graduated from Kuortane.

Raision Loimu

After Kuortane Oivanen made a contract with Raision Loimu which plays in Finland Championleague. He started playing there with his brother Matti. In his first season in Loimu Oivanen didn't get much minutes because Loimu's opposite player at the time was Argentinian Diego Bonini. In his first season in Finland league he won Finland Cup champion and was in the league fourth place.

Second season in Loimu was good to Mikko. He rose to Loimu's number one opposite player and led his team to Finland Cup final again. In final Loimu lost to Napapiirin Palloketut.

Rovaniemen Santasport

After two seasons in Loimu Oivanen made a contract with Rovaniemen Santasport. His brother Matti made a contract with Pielaveden Sampo so it was a first season without Matti. In Santasport Mikko led his team to European Cup best sixteen. In Finland league he led the team to finals against Pielaveden Sampo. Mikko played for the first time against his brother Matti. Finals were very exciting matches. Finals culminated to last fifth game in Kuopio. Full crowd saw fifth set game and Santasport took gold. Mikko get his first big victory.

Bozkurt Belediyespor

After good a season Mikko made contract to Turkey volleyball league with Kastamonu Bozkurt Belediyespor. After Europeacn Championchips Mikko's price rise over a million euros. Many bigger clubs than Kastamonu Bozkurt Belediyesi wanted Mikko. But Kastamonu Bozkurt Belediyesi didn't want to loose their star. Mikko stayed in Kastamonu Bozkurt Belediyesi. He played a good season and led a small club to sixth place in Turkish league.

Resovia Rzeszow

After one season in Turkey Oivanen made a contract with ASSECO Resovia Rzeszów. Contract is 2+1 year long.

National team

Oivanen played his first national team game in season 2005 against Germany on European league. Finland survived to European League finals and the media chose Mikko as a best attacker. Young Finland team won a silver medal in the tournament.

Breakthrough in the team

Oivanen made his breakthrough to the national team World league summer 2007. Finland's number one opposite player Matti Hietanen was hurt and Mikko got a chance to show his talent. He played a good World League summer and was the fourth best scorer in the whole league. After World League summer national team started training for European Championchips in Moscow. There Mikko became one of the best opposite players of the world. He was the best scorer in the tournament and led Finland to its best ballgame achievement.

Achievement

Personals

• Best attacker on European Championchips 2007
• Best attacker on European league 2005

Club

• Finland Champion 2007
• Finland Cup-Champion 2005
• Finland Cup-silver 2006

Clubs

2003-04 Vammalan Lentopallo & Kuortane

2004-05 Raision Loimu

2005-06 Raision Loimu

2006-07 Rovaniemen Santasport

2007-08 Kastamonu Bozkurt Belediyesi

2008-2009 Resovia Rzeszow

References

1. ^ "Mikko Oivanen siirtyy Puolan liigaan" (in Finnish). YLE. 28 April 2008. http://www.yle.fi/urheilu/lajit/lentopallo/2008/04/mikko_oivanen_siirtyy_puolan_liigaan_1301153.html. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 

Persondata
Name	Oivanen, Mikko
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	26 May 1986
Place of birth	Huittinen
Date of death
Place of death