PRAGUE, Czech Republic » There are a few things to pass the time on long bus rides.

Talk. Sleep. Talk. Play cards. Talk. Look at the scenery. Talk.

And talk some more.

That communication on the bus rides is all part of the team bonding that Hawaii is experiencing on its European training tour. The hope is that it will carry over to stronger communication on the court.

The Rainbow Wahine got in plenty of bus and court talk time Monday during the 200-plus-mile drive from Vienna to Prague, a trek broken up by a playing detour to Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic.

Hawaii, which took Sunday off from playing, started slowly against a young S.K. Brno team at the Mestska Hala Vodova’s smaller gym before finishing with a 22-23, 25-16, 25-11, 25-23 victory. The Rainbow Wahine’s final of six friendlies is Tuesday versus a Czech club team.

"I thought we’re playing better as the tour continues," setter Tayler Higgins said. "We’re playing better and the communication is getting better.

"We did struggle in the beginning, but we worked through it. Anytime we’re together is about team building."

If there has been a weakness with the Rainbow Wahine lately, it has been in defending the opponent’s tip shots. It’s been a point of emphasis and there has been improvement in that as well as other phases of their game, coach Dave Shoji said.

"I’ve seen improvement and growth on this trip," he said. "Today we started slow but managed to get it back together. We starting doing the things we needed to do.

"We’re starting to put some things together that we’ll use as a springboard into summer and fall camp. This is why we came."

Brno manager Richard Weisner was impressed by Hawaii’s quickness and athleticism, particularly that of outside hitter Tai Manu-Olevao. The incoming senior has been the steadiest of the Wahine players in the five matches so far.

"Hawaii is a very strong team," Weisner said. "I didn’t know anything about them and was surprised by the quality of play. We have had American college teams here before and Hawaii is the strongest we’ve seen.

"I thought their setter (Higgins) was small but quick, and the middles were also very good."

All 11 healthy Wahine played Monday. In Set 4, Shoji shuffled the lineup to include Megan Huff, graduated seniors Ginger Long and Kalei Adolpho in the middle and incoming sophomore defensive specialist Clare-Marie Anderson at libero. (Hawaii is down to one setter after last week’s injury to incoming sophomore Kendra Koelsch).

The Wahine controlled Set 4, leading by as many as six (22-16). Brno, using mostly players under 20, tied it at 23.

After a Hawaii timeout, incoming sophomore Kalei Greeley nailed a set from Manu-Olevao from the back row and Greeley closed it out with an ace.

The two teams shared dinner, with the Rainbow Wahine singing "Hawaii Pono‘i" at the conclusion.

The evening was not without its struggles off the court, reminiscent of the delays on the H-1 going Ewa — the travel to Prague taking more than an hour longer due to road construction restricting travel to one lane in both directions and a major bus accident.

Hawaii will tour Prague Castle on Tuesday morning before facing a Czech club team to conclude its playing schedule. Wednesday will be a full day of sightseeing, with the team flying back to Hawaii on Thursday.

Follow Star-Advertiser reporter Cindy Luis on Twitter at @CindyLuis_SA