# 1956 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship

The 1956 FIVB Women's World Championship was the second edition of the tournament, contested by the senior women's national teams of the members of the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), the sport's global governing body. It was held from 30 August to 12 September 1956 in France.

## Teams

* Austria (debut)
* Belgium (debut)
* Brazil (debut)
* Bulgaria
* China (debut)
* Czechoslovakia (debut)
* East Germany (debut)
* France (host)
* Israel (debut)
* Luxembourg (debut)
* Netherlands (debut)
* North Korea (debut)
* Poland
* Romania
* Soviet Union (reigning champion)
* United States (debut)
* West Germany (debut)

## Squads

Source:

## Venues

| ParisParis (France) | Paris | Paris | Paris |
| ParisParis (France) | Stade Pierre de Coubertin | Salle Japy | Palais des Sports |
| ParisParis (France) | Capacity: 4,016 | Capacity: 1,500 | Capacity: 4,600 |

## Format

The tournament was played in two different stages (first and final rounds). In the First round, the 17 participants were divided in five groups (two groups of four teams and three groups of three teams). A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, all teams progressed to the next round.
In the Final round, two groups were created (1st-10th and 11th-17th), teams were allocated to a group according to their First round group position (best two teams of each group going to 1st-10th and the remaining teams to 11th-17th). A single round-robin format was played within each group with matches already played between teams in the First round also counted in this round.

## Pools composition

| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D | Pool E |
| Israel | Austria | Belgium | Bulgaria | Brazil |
| Luxembourg | China | Czechoslovakia | East Germany | North Korea |
| Soviet Union | Poland | Netherlands | France | Romania |
| United States | West Germany | | | |

## Results
### First round
#### Pool A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | MAX | 135 | 25 | 5.400 | Final places |
| 2 | United States | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 107 | 54 | 1.981 | Final places |
| 3 | Israel | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 56 | 108 | 0.519 | 11th–17th places |
| 4 | Luxembourg | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 24 | 135 | 0.178 | 11th–17th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total |
| 30 Aug | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Luxembourg | 15–1 | 15–2 | 15–1 | 45–4 |
| 30 Aug | United States | 3–0 | Israel | 15–1 | 15–4 | 15–2 | 45–7 |
| 31 Aug | Israel | 3–0 | Luxembourg | 15–7 | 15–5 | 15–6 | 45–18 |
| 31 Aug | Soviet Union | 3–0 | United States | 15–7 | 15–4 | 15–6 | 45–17 |
| 1 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Israel | 15–2 | 15–2 | 15–0 | 45–4 |
| 1 Sep | United States | 3–0 | Luxembourg | 15–0 | 15–1 | 15–1 | 45–2 |

#### Pool B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Poland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 9.000 | 151 | 53 | 2.849 | Final places |
| 2 | China | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 2.333 | 133 | 72 | 1.847 | Final places |
| 3 | Austria | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 59 | 107 | 0.551 | 11th–17th places |
| 4 | West Germany | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 24 | 135 | 0.178 | 11th–17th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 30 Aug | Poland | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–0 | 15–0 | 15–1 | | 45–1 |
| 30 Aug | China | 3–0 | Austria | 15–1 | 15–2 | 15–2 | | 45–5 |
| 31 Aug | Austria | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–10 | 15–7 | 15–0 | | 45–17 |
| 31 Aug | Poland | 3–1 | China | 17–15 | 14–16 | 15–6 | 15–6 | 61–43 |
| 1 Sep | China | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–1 | 15–3 | 15–2 | | 45–6 |
| 1 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | Austria | 15–5 | 15–3 | 15–1 | | 45–9 |

#### Pool C

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Czechoslovakia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 90 | 13 | 6.923 | Final places |
| 2 | Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 52 | 67 | 0.776 | Final places |
| 3 | Belgium | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 28 | 90 | 0.311 | 11th–17th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total |
| 30 Aug | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–1 | 15–1 | 15–4 | 45–6 |
| 31 Aug | Netherlands | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–10 | 15–7 | 15–5 | 45–22 |
| 1 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–3 | 15–4 | 15–0 | 45–7 |

#### Pool D

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Bulgaria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 6.000 | 104 | 59 | 1.763 | Final places |
| 2 | East Germany | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 66 | 81 | 0.815 | Final places |
| 3 | France | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | 74 | 104 | 0.712 | 11th–17th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 30 Aug | East Germany | 3–0 | France | 15–13 | 15–11 | 15–12 | | 45–36 |
| 31 Aug | Bulgaria | 3–1 | France | 15–3 | 15–8 | 14–16 | 15–11 | 59–38 |
| 1 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–7 | 15–7 | 15–7 | | 45–21 |

#### Pool E

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Romania | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 92 | 54 | 1.704 | Final places |
| 2 | North Korea | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 88 | 78 | 1.128 | Final places |
| 3 | Brazil | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0.167 | 55 | 103 | 0.534 | 11th–17th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 30 Aug | North Korea | 3–1 | Brazil | 15–6 | 11–15 | 15–3 | 15–9 | 56–33 |
| 31 Aug | Romania | 3–0 | Brazil | 17–15 | 15–4 | 15–3 | | 47–22 |
| 1 Sep | Romania | 3–0 | North Korea | 15–11 | 15–11 | 15–10 | | 45–32 |

### Final round

The results and the points of the matches between the same teams that were already played during the first round are taken into account for the final round.

#### 11th–17th places

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 11 | Brazil | 6 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 18 | 1 | 18.000 | 286 | 100 | 2.860 |
| 12 | France | 6 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 16 | 3 | 5.333 | 275 | 129 | 2.132 |
| 13 | Belgium | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 1.714 | 233 | 206 | 1.131 |
| 14 | Israel | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 1.000 | 215 | 216 | 0.995 |
| 15 | Austria | 6 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 0.583 | 183 | 227 | 0.806 |
| 16 | West Germany | 6 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 0.188 | 132 | 274 | 0.482 |
| 17 | Luxembourg | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 18 | 0.056 | 108 | 280 | 0.386 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 2 Sep | Belgium | 3–1 | Israel | 15–9 | 17–15 | 5–15 | 15–11 | 52–50 |
| 2 Sep | France | 3–0 | Luxembourg | 15–1 | 15–0 | 15–1 | | 45–2 |
| 2 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–1 | 15–0 | 15–4 | | 45–5 |
| 3 Sep | France | 3–0 | Austria | 15–6 | 15–6 | 15–4 | | 45–16 |
| 3 Sep | Belgium | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–10 | 15–2 | 15–8 | | 45–20 |
| 3 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Luxembourg | 15–1 | 15–1 | 15–0 | | 45–2 |
| 5 Sep | Israel | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–11 | 15–7 | 15–3 | | 45–21 |
| 5 Sep | Belgium | 3–0 | Luxembourg | 15–0 | 15–8 | 15–5 | | 45–13 |
| 5 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Austria | 15–0 | 15–6 | 15–3 | | 45–9 |
| 6 Sep | Belgium | 3–0 | Austria | 15–6 | 15–13 | 16–14 | | 46–33 |
| 6 Sep | Brazil | 3–1 | France | 15–13 | 17–15 | 14–16 | 15–6 | 61–50 |
| 8 Sep | France | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–7 | 15–8 | 15–6 | | 45–21 |
| 8 Sep | West Germany | 3–1 | Luxembourg | 15–5 | 15–13 | 7–15 | 18–16 | 55–49 |
| 8 Sep | Israel | 3–1 | Austria | 5–15 | 15–3 | 15–8 | 15–9 | 50–35 |
| 9 Sep | France | 3–0 | Israel | 15–2 | 15–11 | 15–2 | | 45–15 |
| 9 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–5 | 15–10 | 15–9 | | 45–24 |
| 10 Sep | Austria | 3–0 | Luxembourg | 15–3 | 15–9 | 15–12 | | 45–24 |
| 10 Sep | Brazil | 3–0 | Israel | 15–5 | 15–3 | 15–2 | | 45–10 |
| 10 Sep | France | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–4 | 15–5 | 15–5 | | 45–14 |

#### Final places

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 9 | 9 | 0 | 18 | 27 | 2 | 13.500 | 439 | 218 | 2.014 |
| 2 | Romania | 9 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 26 | 11 | 2.364 | 510 | 382 | 1.335 |
| 3 | Poland | 9 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 13 | 1.692 | 461 | 386 | 1.194 |
| 4 | Czechoslovakia | 9 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 22 | 10 | 2.200 | 423 | 285 | 1.484 |
| 5 | Bulgaria | 9 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 1.286 | 390 | 359 | 1.086 |
| 6 | China | 9 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 21 | 0.667 | 366 | 446 | 0.821 |
| 7 | North Korea | 9 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 10 | 23 | 0.435 | 368 | 434 | 0.848 |
| 8 | East Germany | 9 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 0.619 | 337 | 451 | 0.747 |
| 9 | United States | 9 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 23 | 0.478 | 329 | 448 | 0.734 |
| 10 | Netherlands | 9 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 27 | 0.111 | 222 | 436 | 0.509 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 2 Sep | United States | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–3 | 15–6 | 15–9 | | | 45–18 |
| 2 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 15–3 | 7–15 | 15–12 | 15–12 | | 52–42 |
| 2 Sep | East Germany | 3–1 | Poland | 15–12 | 15–12 | 13–15 | 16–14 | | 59–53 |
| 2 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | China | 15–8 | 15–0 | 15–9 | | | 45–17 |
| 3 Sep | Poland | 3–2 | Czechoslovakia | 10–15 | 15–6 | 15–13 | 7–15 | 16–14 | 63–63 |
| 3 Sep | Romania | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–6 | 16–14 | 15–7 | | | 46–27 |
| 3 Sep | North Korea | 3–1 | Netherlands | 15–5 | 15–12 | 9–15 | 15–8 | | 54–40 |
| 3 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–1 | China | 8–15 | 15–5 | 15–5 | 15–12 | | 53–37 |
| 5 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | North Korea | 15–6 | 15–6 | 17–15 | | | 47–27 |
| 5 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–1 | United States | 15–3 | 15–17 | 15–5 | 15–5 | | 60–30 |
| 5 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–5 | 15–7 | 15–5 | | | 45–17 |
| 5 Sep | Romania | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–6 | 15–10 | 15–5 | | | 45–21 |
| 6 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | United States | 15–4 | 15–10 | 15–6 | | | 45–20 |
| 6 Sep | East Germany | 3–1 | Netherlands | 15–9 | 15–9 | 10–15 | 15–6 | | 55–39 |
| 6 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–2 | Romania | 12–15 | 11–15 | 15–6 | 15–12 | 15–8 | 68–56 |
| 6 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–0 | North Korea | 15–9 | 15–13 | 15–9 | | | 45–31 |
| 6 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | China | 15–0 | 15–2 | 15–4 | | | 45–6 |
| 8 Sep | Poland | 3–1 | North Korea | 14–16 | 15–8 | 15–10 | 15–4 | | 59–38 |
| 8 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–2 | 15–4 | 15–3 | | | 45–9 |
| 8 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | United States | 15–5 | 15–10 | 15–3 | | | 45–18 |
| 8 Sep | Romania | 3–2 | Bulgaria | 10–15 | 13–15 | 15–9 | 15–9 | 15–8 | 68–56 |
| 8 Sep | China | 3–2 | East Germany | 15–1 | 4–15 | 14–16 | 15–9 | 15–10 | 63–51 |
| 9 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | North Korea | 15–3 | 15–13 | 15–5 | | | 45–21 |
| 9 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–1 | 15–3 | 15–1 | | | 45–5 |
| 9 Sep | United States | 3–2 | China | 10–15 | 10–15 | 15–12 | 15–8 | 15–9 | 65–59 |
| 9 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–11 | 15–7 | 15–12 | | | 45–30 |
| 9 Sep | Romania | 3–2 | Poland | 15–11 | 12–15 | 15–4 | 13–15 | 16–14 | 71–59 |
| 10 Sep | Romania | 3–2 | Czechoslovakia | 10–15 | 11–15 | 15–6 | 15–8 | 15–13 | 66–57 |
| 10 Sep | China | 3–0 | North Korea | 16–14 | 15–10 | 15–12 | | | 46–36 |
| 10 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–13 | 15–7 | 15–10 | | | 45–30 |
| 10 Sep | East Germany | 3–1 | United States | 15–13 | 16–14 | 7–15 | 15–10 | | 53–52 |
| 10 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–9 | 15–3 | 15–12 | | | 45–24 |
| 11 Sep | North Korea | 3–2 | United States | 15–13 | 15–3 | 7–15 | 14–16 | 15–11 | 66–58 |
| 11 Sep | Romania | 3–1 | China | 15–8 | 15–8 | 11–15 | 15–7 | | 56–38 |
| 11 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–1 | Poland | 15–4 | 9–15 | 15–6 | 15–6 | | 54–31 |
| 12 Sep | Poland | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–3 | 15–9 | 15–2 | | | 45–14 |
| 12 Sep | Romania | 3–1 | United States | 12–15 | 15–2 | 15–4 | 15–3 | | 57–24 |
| 12 Sep | North Korea | 3–2 | East Germany | 15–5 | 5–15 | 13–15 | 15–8 | 15–6 | 63–49 |
| 12 Sep | China | 3–1 | Netherlands | 15–3 | 15–11 | 12–15 | 15–5 | | 57–34 |
| 12 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–13 | 15–8 | 15–5 | | | 45–26 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Soviet Union |
| | Romania |
| | Poland |
| 4 | Czechoslovakia |
| 5 | Bulgaria |
| 6 | China |
| 7 | North Korea |
| 8 | East Germany |
| 9 | United States |
| 10 | Netherlands |
| 11 | Brazil |
| 12 | France |
| 13 | Belgium |
| 14 | Israel |
| 15 | Austria |
| 16 | West Germany |
| 17 | Luxembourg |
* 1956 Women's World champions
* Soviet Union 2nd title
* Team roster
* Lidia Boldireva, Ludmila Buldakova, Aleksandra Tschudina, Skaidra Galachova, Kira Gorbachova, Sofia Gorbunova, Lidia Ivanetskaya, Militia Kononova, Lidia Kalenjik, Ludmila Metscheryakova, Antonina Moiseyeva, Lidia Strelnikova, Valentina Varkevitsch
* Head coach
* Alexey Yakushev