# 1971 Women's European Volleyball Championship

The 1971 Women's European Volleyball Championship was the eighth edition of the event, organised by Europe's governing volleyball body, the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball. It was hosted in several cities in Italy from 23 September to 1 October 1971, with the final round held in Reggio Emilia.

## Participating teams

* Austria
* Bulgaria
* Czechoslovakia
* Denmark
* East Germany
* England
* France
* Hungary
* Israel
* Italy
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Romania
* Soviet Union
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* West Germany
* Yugoslavia

## Format

The tournament was played in two different stages. In the first stage, the eighteen participants were divided into six groups of three teams each. In the second stage, three groups were formed, one containing the six winners from first stage groups to contest the tournament title. A second group was formed by the six runners-up from first stage groups which played for position places from 7th to 12th. The third group was formed by the six teams which finished last from first stage groups, which played for positions places from 13th to 18th. All groups in both stages played a single round-robin format.

## Pools composition

| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D | Pool E | Pool F |
| Soviet Union | Austria | Czechoslovakia | East Germany | England | Bulgaria |
| Sweden | Italy | France | Romania | Hungary | Denmark |
| Switzerland | Poland | West Germany | Yugoslavia | Israel | Netherlands |

## Venues

| Pools A, B | Pools C, D and Final round | GoriziaReggio EmiliaImolaModenaclass=notpageimage| Tournament host cities |
| Gorizia | Reggio Emilia | GoriziaReggio EmiliaImolaModenaclass=notpageimage| Tournament host cities |
| Pool E | Pool F | GoriziaReggio EmiliaImolaModenaclass=notpageimage| Tournament host cities |
| Imola | Modena | GoriziaReggio EmiliaImolaModenaclass=notpageimage| Tournament host cities |

## Preliminary round
### Pool A

* venue location: Gorizia, Italy
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 90 | 14 | 6.429 | Final pool |
| 2 | Switzerland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 62 | 92 | 0.674 | 7th–12th pool |
| 3 | Sweden | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | 54 | 100 | 0.540 | 13th–18th pool |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 23 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Sweden | 15–1 | 15–5 | 15–1 | | 45–7 | Report |
| 24 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Switzerland | 15–3 | 15–4 | 15–0 | | 45–7 | Report |
| 25 Sep | Switzerland | 3–1 | Sweden | 15–10 | 10–15 | 15–10 | 15–12 | 55–47 | Report |

### Pool B

* venue location: Gorizia, Italy
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Poland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 90 | 23 | 3.913 | Final pool |
| 2 | Italy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 66 | 54 | 1.222 | 7th–12th pool |
| 3 | Austria | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 11 | 90 | 0.122 | 13th–18th pool |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total | Report |
| 23 Sep | Italy | 3–0 | Austria | 15–2 | 15–2 | 15–5 | 45–9 | Report |
| 24 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | Italy | 15–4 | 15–7 | 15–10 | 45–21 | Report |
| 25 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | Austria | 15–0 | 15–1 | 15–1 | 45–2 | Report |

### Pool C

* venue location: Reggio Emilia, Italy
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Czechoslovakia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 90 | 20 | 4.500 | Final pool |
| 2 | West Germany | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 77 | 87 | 0.885 | 7th–12th pool |
| 3 | France | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0.333 | 54 | 114 | 0.474 | 13th–18th pool |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 23 Sep | West Germany | 3–2 | France | 10–15 | 15–3 | 14–16 | 15–8 | 15–0 | 69–42 | Report |
| 24 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | France | 15–4 | 15–2 | 15–6 | | | 45–12 | Report |
| 25 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–0 | 15–7 | 15–1 | | | 45–8 | Report |

### Pool D

* venue location: Reggio Emilia, Italy
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | East Germany | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3.000 | 112 | 77 | 1.455 | Final pool |
| 2 | Romania | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 1.667 | 108 | 77 | 1.403 | 7th–12th pool |
| 3 | Yugoslavia | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 24 | 90 | 0.267 | 13th–18th pool |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 23 Sep | Yugoslavia | 0–3 | East Germany | 6–15 | 7–15 | 1–15 | | | 14–45 | Report |
| 24 Sep | Yugoslavia | 0–3 | Romania | 2–15 | 7–15 | 1–15 | | | 10–45 | Report |
| 25 Sep | East Germany | 3–2 | Romania | 15–7 | 8–15 | 16–14 | 13–15 | 15–12 | 67–63 | Report |

### Pool E

* venue location: Imola, Italy
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Hungary | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 90 | 23 | 3.913 | Final pool |
| 2 | Israel | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 65 | 57 | 1.140 | 7th–12th pool |
| 3 | England | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 15 | 90 | 0.167 | 13th–18th pool |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total | Report |
| 23 Sep | Hungary | 3–0 | Israel | 15–7 | 15–7 | 15–6 | 45–20 | Report |
| 24 Sep | Hungary | 3–0 | England | 15–1 | 15–1 | 15–1 | 45–3 | Report |
| 25 Sep | Israel | 3–0 | England | 15–2 | 15–2 | 15–8 | 45–12 | Report |

### Pool F

* venue location: Modena, Italy
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Bulgaria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | 99 | 37 | 2.676 | Final pool |
| 2 | Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 74 | 71 | 1.042 | 7th–12th pool |
| 3 | Denmark | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 25 | 90 | 0.278 | 13th–18th pool |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total | Report |
| 23 Sep | Netherlands | 3–0 | Denmark | 15–8 | 15–4 | 15–5 | | 45–17 | Report |
| 24 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Denmark | 15–2 | 15–3 | 15–3 | | 45–8 | Report |
| 26 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Netherlands | 9–15 | 15–5 | 15–6 | 15–3 | 54–29 | Report |

## Final round

* venue location: Reggio Emilia, Italy

### 13th–18th pool

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | France | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 2 | 7.500 | 243 | 117 | 2.077 |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 4.667 | 241 | 125 | 1.928 |
| 3 | Sweden | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 1.125 | 180 | 193 | 0.933 |
| 4 | Denmark | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 0.778 | 170 | 206 | 0.825 |
| 5 | Austria | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 12 | 0.333 | 136 | 202 | 0.673 |
| 6 | England | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0.000 | 98 | 225 | 0.436 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 27 Sep | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Austria | 15–6 | 15–0 | 15–8 | | | 45–14 | Report |
| 27 Sep | Denmark | 3–0 | England | 15–12 | 15–10 | 15–13 | | | 45–35 | Report |
| 27 Sep | France | 3–0 | Sweden | 15–2 | 15–5 | 15–7 | | | 45–14 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Yugoslavia | 2–3 | France | 6–15 | 15–11 | 13–15 | 15–7 | 12–15 | 61–63 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Sweden | 3–0 | England | 15–8 | 15–7 | 15–13 | | | 45–28 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Denmark | 3–0 | Austria | 15–4 | 16–14 | 15–6 | | | 46–24 | Report |
| 29 Sep | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | England | 15–1 | 15–5 | 15–1 | | | 45–7 | Report |
| 29 Sep | Sweden | 3–1 | Denmark | 15–6 | 12–15 | 15–2 | 15–13 | | 57–36 | Report |
| 29 Sep | France | 3–0 | Austria | 15–4 | 15–2 | 15–8 | | | 45–14 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Sweden | 15–9 | 15–4 | 15–3 | | | 45–16 | Report |
| 30 Sep | France | 3–0 | Denmark | 15–6 | 15–9 | 15–3 | | | 45–18 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Austria | 3–0 | England | 15–6 | 15–4 | 15–8 | | | 45–18 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Denmark | 15–12 | 15–2 | 15–11 | | | 45–25 | Report |
| 1 Oct | France | 3–0 | England | 15–6 | 15–1 | 15–3 | | | 45–10 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Sweden | 3–1 | Austria | 3–15 | 15–8 | 15–7 | 15–9 | | 48–39 | Report |

### 7th–12th pool

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Romania | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0 | MAX | 225 | 70 | 3.214 |
| 2 | Italy | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 2.400 | 212 | 191 | 1.110 |
| 3 | Netherlands | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 1.125 | 201 | 201 | 1.000 |
| 4 | West Germany | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 0.818 | 231 | 240 | 0.963 |
| 5 | Israel | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.500 | 170 | 231 | 0.736 |
| 6 | Switzerland | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0.000 | 119 | 225 | 0.529 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 27 Sep | West Germany | 3–2 | Israel | 12–15 | 11–15 | 15–5 | 15–3 | 15–13 | 68–51 | Report |
| 27 Sep | Romania | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–6 | 15–3 | 15–0 | | | 45–9 | Report |
| 27 Sep | Italy | 3–0 | Switzerland | 15–12 | 15–12 | 15–10 | | | 45–34 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Romania | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–6 | 15–7 | 15–5 | | | 45–18 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Italy | 3–0 | Israel | 15–2 | 15–10 | 15–5 | | | 45–17 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Netherlands | 3–0 | Switzerland | 15–13 | 15–3 | 15–11 | | | 45–27 | Report |
| 29 Sep | West Germany | 3–0 | Switzerland | 15–11 | 15–6 | 15–8 | | | 45–25 | Report |
| 29 Sep | Italy | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–13 | 15–11 | 15–11 | | | 45–35 | Report |
| 29 Sep | Romania | 3–0 | Israel | 15–5 | 15–6 | 15–2 | | | 45–13 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Romania | 3–0 | Switzerland | 15–7 | 15–2 | 15–4 | | | 45–13 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Netherlands | 3–1 | Israel | 15–10 | 15–8 | 8–15 | 15–11 | | 53–44 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Italy | 3–2 | West Germany | 15–10 | 2–15 | 11–15 | 17–15 | 15–5 | 60–60 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Israel | 3–0 | Switzerland | 15–7 | 15–3 | 15–10 | | | 45–20 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Netherlands | 3–1 | West Germany | 14–16 | 15–9 | 15–11 | 15–4 | | 59–40 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Romania | 3–0 | Italy | 15–3 | 15–4 | 15–10 | | | 45–17 | Report |

### Final pool

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0 | MAX | 225 | 92 | 2.446 |
| 2 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 2.000 | 232 | 200 | 1.160 |
| 3 | Poland | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 1.125 | 211 | 204 | 1.034 |
| 4 | Bulgaria | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 13 | 0.615 | 213 | 275 | 0.775 |
| 5 | Hungary | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 0.500 | 194 | 234 | 0.829 |
| 6 | East Germany | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 0.267 | 192 | 262 | 0.733 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 27 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–4 | 15–6 | 15–7 | | | 45–17 | Report |
| 27 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–2 | Hungary | 15–9 | 15–9 | 9–15 | 10–15 | 15–10 | 64–58 | Report |
| 27 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Poland | 15–13 | 15–4 | 15–8 | | | 45–25 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | Hungary | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–12 | | | 45–35 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–11 | 15–6 | 15–8 | | | 45–25 | Report |
| 28 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–2 | East Germany | 15–5 | 11–15 | 15–12 | 7–15 | 15–11 | 63–58 | Report |
| 29 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–10 | | | 45–33 | Report |
| 29 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–1 | 15–3 | 15–8 | | | 45–12 | Report |
| 29 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–1 | Hungary | 9–15 | 15–5 | 15–13 | 15–11 | | 54–44 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Hungary | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–10 | 16–14 | 15–2 | | | 46–26 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Poland | 15–8 | 15–6 | 15–13 | | | 45–27 | Report |
| 30 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–9 | 15–12 | 15–7 | | | 45–28 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Czechoslovakia | 3–2 | East Germany | 15–10 | 12–15 | 15–12 | 6–15 | 15–6 | 63–58 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Poland | 3–2 | Bulgaria | 15–2 | 15–6 | 10–15 | 14–16 | 15–7 | 69–46 | Report |
| 1 Oct | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Hungary | 15–2 | 15–5 | 15–4 | | | 45–11 | Report |

## Final ranking

| Place | Team |
| | Soviet Union |
| | Czechoslovakia |
| | Poland |
| 4. | Bulgaria |
| 5. | Hungary |
| 6. | East Germany |
| 7. | Romania |
| 8. | Italy |
| 9. | Netherlands |
| 10. | West Germany |
| 11. | Israel |
| 12. | Switzerland |
| 13. | France |
| 14. | Yugoslavia |
| 15. | Sweden |
| 16. | Denmark |
| 17. | Austria |
| 18. | England |
* 1971 Women's European champions
* Soviet Union Seventh title