# 1981 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup

The 1981 FIVB Women's World Cup was held from 6 to 16 November 1981 in Osaka, Japan.

## Teams

| Teams | Continents |
| Japan | Host country |
| China | Asia |
| South Korea | Asia |
| Soviet Union | Europe |
| Bulgaria | Europe |
| Cuba | Americas |
| Brazil | Americas |
| United States | Americas |

## Results

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR |
| 1 | China | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 | 4 | 5.250 | 364 | 216 | 1.685 |
| 2 | Japan | 7 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 19 | 7 | 2.714 | 361 | 246 | 1.467 |
| 3 | Soviet Union | 7 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 15 | 7 | 2.143 | 267 | 235 | 1.136 |
| 4 | United States | 7 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 17 | 9 | 1.889 | 335 | 280 | 1.196 |
| 5 | South Korea | 7 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 9 | 14 | 0.643 | 265 | 281 | 0.943 |
| 6 | Cuba | 7 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 0.625 | 294 | 332 | 0.886 |
| 7 | Bulgaria | 7 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 19 | 0.263 | 198 | 335 | 0.591 |
| 8 | Brazil | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 21 | 0.048 | 166 | 325 | 0.511 |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Nov | China | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–4 | 15–5 | 15–3 | | | 45–12 |
| 6 Nov | Japan | 3–0 | Soviet Union | 15–1 | 15–5 | 15–3 | | | 45–9 |
| 6 Nov | Cuba | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 12–15 | 16–14 | 15–12 | 15–5 | | 58–46 |
| 6 Nov | United States | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–8 | 15–12 | 15–6 | | | 45–26 |
| 8 Nov | China | 3–0 | Soviet Union | 15–4 | 16–14 | 15–0 | | | 46–18 |
| 8 Nov | Japan | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–8 | 15–11 | 15–7 | | | 45–26 |
| 8 Nov | Cuba | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–6 | 15–5 | 15–10 | | | 45–21 |
| 8 Nov | United States | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–3 | 15–9 | 15–3 | | | 45–15 |
| 10 Nov | United States | 3–1 | Cuba | 15–11 | 15–5 | 7–15 | 15–3 | | 52–34 |
| 10 Nov | Japan | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–1 | 15–7 | 15–3 | | | 45–11 |
| 10 Nov | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–8 | 15–5 | 15–5 | | | 45–18 |
| 10 Nov | China | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–12 | 15–9 | 15–8 | | | 45–29 |
| 11 Nov | China | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–6 | 15–3 | 15–6 | | | 45–15 |
| 11 Nov | Soviet Union | 3–0 | South Korea | 15–11 | 15–6 | 16–14 | | | 46–31 |
| 11 Nov | United States | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–4 | 15–12 | 15–10 | | | 45–26 |
| 11 Nov | Japan | 3–1 | Cuba | 15–13 | 14–16 | 15–6 | 15–5 | | 59–40 |
| 13 Nov | United States | 3–2 | Japan | 15–10 | 11–15 | 15–13 | 12–15 | 15–9 | 68–62 |
| 13 Nov | South Korea | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–5 | 15–6 | 15–13 | | | 45–24 |
| 13 Nov | Soviet Union | 3–1 | Bulgaria | 15–11 | 15–11 | 13–15 | 15–5 | | 58–42 |
| 13 Nov | China | 3–0 | Cuba | 15–4 | 15–13 | 15–9 | | | 45–26 |
| 15 Nov | China | 3–2 | United States | 15–8 | 13–15 | 15–11 | 14–16 | 15–6 | 72–56 |
| 15 Nov | Japan | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–3 | 15–10 | 15–13 | | | 45–26 |
| 15 Nov | South Korea | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–5 | 15–6 | 15–3 | | | 45–14 |
| 15 Nov | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Cuba | 15–8 | 16–14 | 15–7 | | | 46–29 |
| 16 Nov | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Brazil | 10–15 | 15–8 | 15–7 | 15–9 | | 55–39 |
| 16 Nov | South Korea | 3–2 | Cuba | 11–15 | 7–15 | 15–10 | 15–11 | 15–11 | 63–62 |
| 16 Nov | Soviet Union | 3–0 | United States | 15–11 | 15–4 | 15–9 | | | 45–24 |
| 16 Nov | China | 3–2 | Japan | 15–8 | 15–7 | 12–15 | 7–15 | 17–15 | 66–60 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | China |
| | Japan |
| | Soviet Union |
| 4 | United States |
| 5 | South Korea |
| 6 | Cuba |
| 7 | Bulgaria |
| 8 | Brazil |
* 1981 Women's World Cup champions
* China 1st title
* Team roster
* Cao Huiying, Liang Yan, Lang Ping, Zhou Xiaolan, Yang Xi, Sun Jinfang (c), Chen Zhaodi, Zhou Lumin, Zhu Ling, Chen Yaqiong, Zhang Rongfang, Zhang Jieyun
* Head coach
* Yuan Weimin

## Awards

* Most valuable player
    Sun Jinfang
* Best attacker
    Flo Hyman
* Best blocker
    Yelena Akhaminova
* Best setter
    Sun Jinfang
* Best server
    Rieko Mizuhara
* Best defender
    Miyoko Hirose
* Best Coach
    Yuan Weimin
* Spirit of fight
    Mercedez Pérez