# 1978 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship

The 1978 FIVB Women's World Championship was the eighth edition of the tournament, organised by the world's governing body, the FIVB. It was held from 25 August to 7 September 1978 in the Soviet Union.

## Teams

* Belgium
* Brazil
* Bulgaria
* Canada
* China
* Cuba
* Czechoslovakia
* Dominican Republic
* East Germany
* Finland
* Hungary
* Italy
* Japan
* Mexico
* Netherlands
* North Korea (withdraw)
* Peru
* Poland
* South Korea
* Soviet Union
* Tunisia
* United States
* West Germany
* Yugoslavia

## Venues

| Pool E, L, Final round | Pool A, C, G, Final round | LeningradMinskRigaVolgogradclass=notpageimage| Host cities in the Soviet Union |
| Riga | Leningrad | LeningradMinskRigaVolgogradclass=notpageimage| Host cities in the Soviet Union |
| Capacity: | Capacity: | LeningradMinskRigaVolgogradclass=notpageimage| Host cities in the Soviet Union |
| Pool D, I, Final round | Pool B, F, H | LeningradMinskRigaVolgogradclass=notpageimage| Host cities in the Soviet Union |
| Minsk | Volgograd | LeningradMinskRigaVolgogradclass=notpageimage| Host cities in the Soviet Union |
| Capacity: | Capacity: | LeningradMinskRigaVolgogradclass=notpageimage| Host cities in the Soviet Union |
Source:

## Format

The tournament was played in three different stages (first, second and final rounds). In the First round, the 23 participants were divided in six groups (A to F, five groups of four teams and one group 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 Second round, four new groups were created, two groups of six teams playing for 1st-12th (G and H) and two groups (one of six teams and one of five teams) playing for 13th-23rd (I and L), teams were allocated to a group according to their First round group position (best two teams of each group going to 1st-12th groups and the remaining teams to 13th-23rd groups). A single round-robin format was played within each group to determine the teams group position, matches already played between teams in the First round also counted in this round, all teams progressed to the next round.
In the Final round, teams were allocated to a semifinal for placements according to their Second round group position (groups G and H best two teams to 1st-4th, third and fourth to 5th-8th, fifth and sixth to 9th-12th while groups I and L best two teams to 13th-16th, third and fourth to 16th-20th, fifth and sixth to 21st-23rd). Winners and losers of all semifinals played a last match for final standings places.

## Pools composition

| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C | Pool D | Pool E | Pool F |
| Bulgaria | Italy | Brazil | Belgium | China | Cuba |
| Dominican Republic | Japan | Canada | Czechoslovakia | Finland | Netherlands |
| North Korea | Tunisia | South Korea | East Germany | Hungary | Peru |
| Soviet Union | United States | West Germany | Mexico | Poland | Yugoslavia |

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

Location: Leningrad
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Soviet Union | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | MAX | 90 | 22 | 4.091 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Bulgaria | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 60 | 62 | 0.968 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Dominican Republic | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 | 24 | 90 | 0.267 | 13th–23rd pools |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Total |
| 25 Aug | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–3 | 15–3 | 15–9 | 45–15 |
| 26 Aug | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 15–1 | 15–1 | 15–5 | 45–7 |
| 27 Aug | Bulgaria | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 15–3 | 15–8 | 15–6 | 45–17 |

#### Pool B

Location: Volgograd
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4.500 | 151 | 70 | 2.157 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | United States | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 2.667 | 148 | 84 | 1.762 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Italy | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 70 | 99 | 0.707 | 13th–23rd pools |
| 4 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 19 | 135 | 0.141 | 13th–23rd pools |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 25 Aug | Italy | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–2 | 15–3 | 15–4 | | | 45–9 |
| 25 Aug | Japan | 3–2 | United States | 15–9 | 7–15 | 15–11 | 9–15 | 15–8 | 61–58 |
| 26 Aug | United States | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–5 | 15–1 | 15–1 | | | 45–7 |
| 26 Aug | Japan | 3–0 | Italy | 15–5 | 15–2 | 15–2 | | | 45–9 |
| 27 Aug | Japan | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–2 | 15–0 | 15–1 | | | 45–3 |
| 27 Aug | United States | 3–0 | Italy | 15–11 | 15–1 | 15–4 | | | 45–16 |

#### Pool C

Location: Leningrad
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | MAX | 135 | 50 | 2.700 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Brazil | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1.500 | 105 | 113 | 0.929 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Canada | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0.667 | 111 | 105 | 1.057 | 13th–23rd pools |
| 4 | West Germany | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 52 | 135 | 0.385 | 13th–23rd pools |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 25 Aug | Brazil | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–8 | 15–9 | 15–7 | | 45–24 |
| 25 Aug | South Korea | 3–0 | Canada | 15–10 | 15–2 | 15–10 | | 45–22 |
| 26 Aug | South Korea | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–1 | 15–7 | 15–8 | | 45–16 |
| 26 Aug | Brazil | 3–1 | Canada | 3–15 | 15–6 | 15–11 | 15–12 | 48–44 |
| 27 Aug | South Korea | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–3 | 15–3 | 15–6 | | 45–12 |
| 27 Aug | Canada | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–1 | 15–11 | 15–0 | | 45–12 |

#### Pool D

Location: Minsk
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | East Germany | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 4.500 | 156 | 83 | 1.880 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Czechoslovakia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 124 | 86 | 1.442 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Mexico | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 0.833 | 117 | 139 | 0.842 | 13th–23rd pools |
| 4 | Belgium | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 46 | 135 | 0.341 | 13th–23rd pools |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 25 Aug | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Mexico | 15–6 | 20–18 | 15–3 | | | 50–27 |
| 25 Aug | East Germany | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–2 | 15–3 | 15–4 | | | 45–9 |
| 26 Aug | Czechoslovakia | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–1 | 15–8 | 15–5 | | | 45–14 |
| 26 Aug | East Germany | 3–2 | Mexico | 15–3 | 15–17 | 15–3 | 6–15 | 15–7 | 66–45 |
| 27 Aug | Mexico | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–11 | 15–6 | 15–6 | | | 45–23 |
| 27 Aug | East Germany | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–10 | 15–6 | 15–13 | | | 45–29 |

#### Pool E

Location: Riga
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | China | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 | MAX | 136 | 54 | 2.519 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Poland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1.500 | 118 | 120 | 0.983 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Hungary | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0.667 | 122 | 114 | 1.070 | 13th–23rd pools |
| 4 | Finland | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0.000 | 47 | 135 | 0.348 | 13th–23rd pools |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 25 Aug | Poland | 3–0 | Finland | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–5 | | 45–28 |
| 25 Aug | China | 3–0 | Hungary | 15–4 | 15–12 | 16–14 | | 46–30 |
| 26 Aug | China | 3–0 | Finland | 15–3 | 15–1 | 15–4 | | 45–8 |
| 26 Aug | Poland | 3–1 | Hungary | 15–13 | 12–15 | 15–10 | 15–9 | 57–47 |
| 27 Aug | China | 3–0 | Poland | 15–2 | 15–8 | 15–6 | | 45–16 |
| 27 Aug | Hungary | 3–0 | Finland | 15–4 | 15–2 | 15–5 | | 45–11 |

#### Pool F

Location: Volgograd
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Cuba | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 9.000 | 148 | 59 | 2.508 | 1st–12th pools |
| 2 | Peru | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 112 | 72 | 1.556 | 1st–12th pools |
| 3 | Yugoslavia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 0.571 | 84 | 146 | 0.575 | 13th–23rd pools |
| 4 | Netherlands | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 0.111 | 73 | 140 | 0.521 | 13th–23rd pools |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Total |
| 25 Aug | Peru | 3–0 | Yugoslavia | 15–2 | 15–7 | 15–1 | | 45–10 |
| 25 Aug | Cuba | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–1 | 15–4 | 15–8 | | 45–13 |
| 26 Aug | Yugoslavia | 3–1 | Netherlands | 15–6 | 15–9 | 5–15 | 15–13 | 50–43 |
| 26 Aug | Cuba | 3–0 | Peru | 15–7 | 15–12 | 15–3 | | 45–22 |
| 27 Aug | Cuba | 3–1 | Yugoslavia | 15–5 | 13–15 | 15–2 | 15–2 | 58–24 |
| 27 Aug | Peru | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–2 | 15–8 | 15–7 | | 45–17 |

### Second 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 second round.

#### 1st–12th pools
##### Pool G

Location: Leningrad
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | South Korea | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 4.333 | 229 | 145 | 1.579 | Finals |
| 2 | Soviet Union | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 3 | 4.000 | 217 | 114 | 1.904 | Finals |
| 3 | China | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 4 | 3.000 | 213 | 159 | 1.340 | 5th–8th places |
| 4 | Brazil | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 0.462 | 171 | 241 | 0.710 | 5th–8th places |
| 5 | Bulgaria | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 0.385 | 158 | 241 | 0.656 | 9th–12th places |
| 6 | Poland | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 0.200 | 154 | 242 | 0.636 | 9th–12th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 30 Aug | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–5 | 15–5 | 15–6 | | | 45–16 |
| 30 Aug | China | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–11 | 15–12 | 15–6 | | | 45–29 |
| 30 Aug | South Korea | 3–0 | Poland | 15–5 | 15–8 | 15–9 | | | 45–22 |
| 31 Aug | Bulgaria | 3–1 | Poland | 4–15 | 15–11 | 15–6 | 15–9 | | 49–41 |
| 31 Aug | South Korea | 3–0 | Soviet Union | 15–13 | 15–12 | 15–12 | | | 45–37 |
| 31 Aug | China | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–3 | 15–7 | 15–10 | | | 45–20 |
| 1 Sep | Brazil | 3–2 | Poland | 15–7 | 15–8 | 7–15 | 6–15 | 15–10 | 58–55 |
| 1 Sep | South Korea | 3–0 | Bulgaria | 15–9 | 15–2 | 15–3 | | | 45–14 |
| 1 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | China | 15–4 | 15–4 | 15–10 | | | 45–18 |
| 2 Sep | China | 3–1 | South Korea | 16–14 | 14–16 | 15–9 | 15–10 | | 60–49 |
| 2 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–0 | Poland | 15–2 | 15–8 | 15–10 | | | 45–20 |
| 2 Sep | Brazil | 3–2 | Bulgaria | 15–4 | 6–15 | 14–16 | 15–7 | 15–9 | 65–51 |

##### Pool H

Location: Volgograd
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Cuba | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 0 | MAX | 225 | 114 | 1.974 | Finals |
| 2 | Japan | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 1.500 | 261 | 206 | 1.267 | Finals |
| 3 | United States | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 6 | 1.833 | 213 | 194 | 1.098 | 5th–8th places |
| 4 | East Germany | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 0.545 | 192 | 221 | 0.869 | 5th–8th places |
| 5 | Peru | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 0.429 | 202 | 266 | 0.759 | 9th–12th places |
| 6 | Czechoslovakia | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 0.267 | 173 | 265 | 0.653 | 9th–12th places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 30 Aug | Japan | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–9 | 15–3 | 15–10 | | | 45–22 |
| 30 Aug | Cuba | 3–0 | United States | 15–7 | 15–3 | 15–10 | | | 45–20 |
| 30 Aug | Peru | 3–2 | Czechoslovakia | 16–14 | 6–15 | 15–2 | 8–15 | 15–5 | 60–51 |
| 31 Aug | Japan | 3–1 | Peru | 13–15 | 15–9 | 15–4 | 15–6 | | 58–34 |
| 31 Aug | United States | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–13 | 15–11 | 15–11 | | | 45–35 |
| 31 Aug | Cuba | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–1 | 15–9 | 15–12 | | | 45–22 |
| 1 Sep | United States | 3–0 | Peru | 15–8 | 15–10 | 15–11 | | | 45–29 |
| 1 Sep | Cuba | 3–0 | East Germany | 15–4 | 15–6 | 15–13 | | | 45–23 |
| 1 Sep | Japan | 3–2 | Czechoslovakia | 13–15 | 15–4 | 15–8 | 12–15 | 15–5 | 70–47 |
| 2 Sep | East Germany | 3–2 | Peru | 12–15 | 15–10 | 10–15 | 15–6 | 15–11 | 67–57 |
| 2 Sep | Cuba | 3–0 | Japan | 15–8 | 15–9 | 15–10 | | | 45–27 |
| 2 Sep | United States | 3–0 | Czechoslovakia | 15–0 | 15–12 | 15–12 | | | 45–24 |

#### 13th–23rd pools
##### Pool I

Location: Minsk
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Mexico | 5 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 3.750 | 265 | 164 | 1.616 | 13th–16th places |
| 2 | Yugoslavia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 3.500 | 246 | 158 | 1.557 | 13th–16th places |
| 3 | Italy | 5 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 1.500 | 175 | 157 | 1.115 | 17th–20th places |
| 4 | Netherlands | 5 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 1.000 | 229 | 192 | 1.193 | 17th–20th places |
| 5 | Belgium | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 0.250 | 123 | 185 | 0.665 | 21st–23rd places |
| 6 | Tunisia | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 0.000 | 43 | 225 | 0.191 | 21st–23rd places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 30 Aug | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–10 | 15–3 | 15–7 | | | 45–20 |
| 30 Aug | Mexico | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–0 | 15–1 | 15–2 | | | 45–3 |
| 30 Aug | Italy | 3–0 | Netherlands | 15–13 | 15–12 | 15–11 | | | 45–36 |
| 31 Aug | Belgium | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–3 | 15–2 | 15–0 | | | 45–5 |
| 31 Aug | Mexico | 3–2 | Netherlands | 18–16 | 5–15 | 15–12 | 12–15 | 15–2 | 65–60 |
| 31 Aug | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Italy | 15–6 | 15–11 | 15–6 | | | 45–23 |
| 1 Sep | Netherlands | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–6 | 15–12 | 15–1 | | | 45–19 |
| 1 Sep | Italy | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–8 | 15–8 | 15–6 | | | 45–22 |
| 1 Sep | Mexico | 3–2 | Yugoslavia | 14–16 | 15–13 | 6–15 | 15–6 | 15–11 | 65–61 |
| 2 Sep | Mexico | 3–0 | Italy | 15–7 | 15–7 | 15–3 | | | 45–17 |
| 2 Sep | Netherlands | 3–0 | Belgium | 15–2 | 15–10 | 15–1 | | | 45–13 |
| 2 Sep | Yugoslavia | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–2 | 15–2 | 15–3 | | | 45–7 |

##### Pool L

Location: Riga
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| 1 | Hungary | 4 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | MAX | 181 | 61 | 2.967 | 13th–16th places |
| 2 | Canada | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 2.250 | 159 | 123 | 1.293 | 13th–16th places |
| 3 | Dominican Republic | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 0.750 | 150 | 164 | 0.915 | 17th–20th places |
| 4 | West Germany | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 0.364 | 135 | 199 | 0.678 | 17th–20th places |
| 5 | Finland | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 0.333 | 143 | 221 | 0.647 | 21st–23rd places |
| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 30 Aug | West Germany | 3–2 | Finland | 12–15 | 12–15 | 15–13 | 15–4 | 15–10 | 69–57 |
| 30 Aug | Hungary | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 15–6 | 16–14 | 15–1 | | | 46–21 |
| 31 Aug | Canada | 3–1 | Finland | 15–8 | 7–15 | 15–6 | 16–14 | | 53–43 |
| 31 Aug | Dominican Republic | 3–1 | West Germany | 15–3 | 7–15 | 15–7 | 15–13 | | 52–38 |
| 1 Sep | Hungary | 3–0 | West Germany | 15–7 | 15–2 | 15–7 | | | 45–16 |
| 1 Sep | Canada | 3–0 | Dominican Republic | 18–16 | 15–1 | 15–6 | | | 48–23 |
| 2 Sep | Hungary | 3–0 | Canada | 15–6 | 15–0 | 15–7 | | | 45–13 |
| 2 Sep | Dominican Republic | 3–1 | Finland | 8–15 | 16–14 | 15–1 | 15–2 | | 54–32 |

### Final round
#### 21st–23rd places

| 21st–23rd semifinals | 21st–23rd semifinals | 21st place | 21st place |
| 5 September – Leningrad | 5 September – Leningrad |
| Finland | 3 |
| Finland | 3 | 6 September – Leningrad | 6 September – Leningrad |
| Tunisia | 0 | 6 September – Leningrad | 6 September – Leningrad |
| Tunisia | 0 | Finland | 3 |
| | | Belgium | 2 |
| Belgium | | Belgium | 2 |
| Bye | | | |

##### 21st–23rd semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Sep | Finland | 3–0 | Tunisia | 15–7 | 15–4 | 15–4 | | | 45–15 |

##### 21st place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Finland | 3–2 | Belgium | 14–16 | 15–10 | 11–15 | 15–4 | 15–12 | 70–57 |

#### 17th–20th places

| 17th–20th semifinals | 17th–20th semifinals | 17th place | 17th place |
| 5 September – Riga | 5 September – Riga |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| Netherlands | 3 | 6 September – Riga | 6 September – Riga |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | 6 September – Riga | 6 September – Riga |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | Netherlands | 3 |
| 5 September – Riga | 5 September – Riga | | Netherlands | 3 |
| 5 September – Riga | 5 September – Riga | West Germany | 1 |
| West Germany | 3 | West Germany | 1 |
| Italy | 1 | | |
| Italy | 1 | 19th place | 19th place |
| | | 6 September – Riga | 6 September – Riga |
| | | Dominican Republic | 3 |
| | | Italy | 2 |

##### 17th–20th semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Sep | Netherlands | 3–1 | Dominican Republic | 20–18 | 15–7 | 13–15 | 17–15 | | 65–55 |
| 5 Sep | West Germany | 3–1 | Italy | 14–16 | 15–10 | 15–9 | 17–15 | | 61–50 |

##### 19th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Dominican Republic | 3–2 | Italy | 1–15 | 15–10 | 15–13 | 5–15 | 15–10 | 51–63 |

##### 17th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Netherlands | 3–1 | West Germany | 15–5 | 15–5 | 9–15 | 15–9 | | 54–34 |

#### 13th–16th places

| 13th–16th semifinals | 13th–16th semifinals | 13th place | 13th place |
| 5 September – Minsk | 5 September – Minsk |
| Hungary | 3 |
| Hungary | 3 | 6 September – Minsk | 6 September – Minsk |
| Yugoslavia | 0 | 6 September – Minsk | 6 September – Minsk |
| Yugoslavia | 0 | Hungary | 3 |
| 5 September – Minsk | 5 September – Minsk | | Hungary | 3 |
| 5 September – Minsk | 5 September – Minsk | Canada | 0 |
| Canada | 3 | Canada | 0 |
| Mexico | 0 | | |
| Mexico | 0 | 15th place | 15th place |
| | | 6 September – Minsk | 6 September – Minsk |
| | | Yugoslavia | 0 |
| | | Mexico | 3 |

##### 13th–16th semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Sep | Hungary | 3–0 | Yugoslavia | 15–10 | 15–3 | 15–5 | | | 45–18 |
| 5 Sep | Canada | 3–0 | Mexico | 15–13 | 15–10 | 15–4 | | | 45–27 |

##### 15th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Yugoslavia | 0–3 | Mexico | 10–15 | 13–15 | 3–15 | | | 26–45 |

##### 13th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Hungary | 3–0 | Canada | 15–5 | 15–4 | 15–11 | | | 45–20 |

#### 9th–12th places

| 9th–12th semifinals | 9th–12th semifinals | 9th place | 9th place |
| 5 September – Minsk | 5 September – Minsk |
| Bulgaria | 3 |
| Bulgaria | 3 | 6 September – Minsk | 6 September – Minsk |
| Czechoslovakia | 2 | 6 September – Minsk | 6 September – Minsk |
| Czechoslovakia | 2 | Bulgaria | 3 |
| 5 September – Minsk | 5 September – Minsk | | Bulgaria | 3 |
| 5 September – Minsk | 5 September – Minsk | Peru | 2 |
| Peru | 3 | Peru | 2 |
| Poland | 0 | | |
| Poland | 0 | 11th place | 11th place |
| | | 6 September – Minsk | 6 September – Minsk |
| | | Czechoslovakia | 2 |
| | | Poland | 3 |

##### 9th–12th semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–2 | Czechoslovakia | 15–11 | 7–15 | 15–8 | 9–15 | 15–13 | 61–62 |
| 5 Sep | Peru | 3–0 | Poland | 15–4 | 15–6 | 15–11 | | | 45–21 |

##### 11th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Czechoslovakia | 2–3 | Poland | 4–15 | 15–3 | 16–18 | 15–8 | 6–15 | 56–59 |

##### 9th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Bulgaria | 3–2 | Peru | 15–9 | 11–15 | 11–15 | 15–8 | 17–15 | 69–62 |

#### 5th–8th places

| 5th–8th semifinals | 5th–8th semifinals | 5th place | 5th place |
| 5 September – Riga | 5 September – Riga |
| United States | 3 |
| United States | 3 | 6 September – Riga | 6 September – Riga |
| Brazil | 0 | 6 September – Riga | 6 September – Riga |
| Brazil | 0 | United States | 3 |
| 5 September – Riga | 5 September – Riga | | United States | 3 |
| 5 September – Riga | 5 September – Riga | China | 0 |
| China | 3 | China | 0 |
| East Germany | 2 | | |
| East Germany | 2 | 7th place | 7th place |
| | | 6 September – Riga | 6 September – Riga |
| | | Brazil | 3 |
| | | East Germany | 2 |

##### 5th–8th semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Sep | United States | 3–0 | Brazil | 15–5 | 15–13 | 15–8 | | | 45–26 |
| 5 Sep | China | 3–2 | East Germany | 15–7 | 11–15 | 9–15 | 15–5 | 15–8 | 65–50 |

##### 7th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Brazil | 3–2 | East Germany | 16–18 | 16–14 | 16–14 | 11–15 | 15–13 | 74–74 |

##### 5th place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | United States | 3–0 | China | 15–13 | 15–11 | 15–10 | | | 45–34 |

#### Finals

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| 5 September – Leningrad | 5 September – Leningrad |
| Cuba | 3 |
| Cuba | 3 | 6 September – Leningrad | 6 September – Leningrad |
| Soviet Union | 1 | 6 September – Leningrad | 6 September – Leningrad |
| Soviet Union | 1 | Cuba | 3 |
| 5 September – Leningrad | 5 September – Leningrad | | Cuba | 3 |
| 5 September – Leningrad | 5 September – Leningrad | Japan | 0 |
| Japan | 3 | Japan | 0 |
| South Korea | 1 | | |
| South Korea | 1 | 3rd place | 3rd place |
| | | 6 September – Leningrad | 6 September – Leningrad |
| | | Soviet Union | 3 |
| | | South Korea | 1 |

##### Semifinals

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 5 Sep | Cuba | 3–1 | Soviet Union | 12–15 | 16–14 | 15–10 | 15–12 | | 58–51 |
| 5 Sep | Japan | 3–1 | South Korea | 12–15 | 15–8 | 15–11 | 15–11 | | 57–45 |

##### 3rd place match

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Soviet Union | 3–1 | South Korea | 15–2 | 15–7 | 11–15 | 15–9 | | 56–33 |

##### Final

| Date | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total |
| 6 Sep | Cuba | 3–0 | Japan | 15–6 | 15–9 | 15–10 | | | 45–25 |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| | Cuba |
| | Japan |
| | Soviet Union |
| 4 | South Korea |
| 5 | United States |
| 6 | China |
| 7 | Brazil |
| 8 | East Germany |
| 9 | Bulgaria |
| 10 | Peru |
| 11 | Poland |
| 12 | Czechoslovakia |
| 13 | Hungary |
| 14 | Canada |
| 15 | Mexico |
| 16 | Yugoslavia |
| 17 | Netherlands |
| 18 | West Germany |
| 19 | Dominican Republic |
| 20 | Italy |
| 21 | Finland |
| 22 | Belgium |
| 23 | Tunisia |
| 24 | North Korea |
* 1978 Women's World champions
* Cuba 1st title
* Team roster
* Nelly Barnet, Ana Díaz, Erenia Díaz, Ana María García, Mavis Guilarte, Libertad González, Sirenia Martínez, Mercedes Pérez, Mercedes Pomares, Imilsis Téllez, Lucila Urgelles
* Head coach
* Eugenio George