A variety of things have made the Flathead Bravettes stronger this volleyball season: sophomore hitter Makenna Aldrich, junior setter Anna Bain, a fleet of strong servers. ...  

And those seniors.

Three of them — Emy O’Dell, Olivia Neva and Addison Thornsberry — have stuck through some tough times with the Bravettes to play key roles on a team that is 4-5 in Western AA matches, good for fourth in the league. 

If they stay there — Flathead hosts seventh-place Glacier tonight at 4 p.m., in the second Crosstown match of the season — in a couple weeks they can host a play-in to earn their first state berth since 2021. 

“I think State could be in our favor,” O’Dell said. “It’s definitely something we’re pushing for. I know in my four years as a Bravette we haven’t gone. Senior year, we really want to go.” 

O’Dell averages 1.8 digs per set, has 13 aces in nine league matches and leads the team in pass rating. 

“I’m kind of a utility,” she said. “(Coach Emily Russell) puts me wherever she needs me. I’m very flexible, so I can kind of play wherever.” 

“She is a firecracker and is willing to do whatever her team needs,” Russell, in her sixth season as Flathead’s head coach, said. “She’s able to do it all.” 

Neva and Thornsberry are more likely to be found at the net, though Thornsberry (who had 10) and O’Dell combined for 18 kills in a win over Butte High in September.  

Neva plays middle blocker and right side; she had three blocks two weeks ago when Flathead went to Glacier and won in straight sets. Her .56 blocks per set sit just outside the Western AA’s Top 10. 

She’s known O’Dell from their days at Peterson Elementary. Then again, she also knows Thornsberry from their days at Edgerton. “I was all over the place,” Neva said, smiling. 

Behind the smile is a crafty swing — Russell’s words — and tough defense at the net. “She has been an amazing, supporting teammate,” her coach added. 

Thornsberry is an outside hitter and at 5-foot-8 gets high enough to average six kills in nine league matches. Russell credits Thornsberry’s work in the weight room as a big part of that success, and the senior agrees — with a nod toward sibling Brody, a sprinter and long jumper at the University of Montana. 

“And genes,” Thornsberry said. “My brother obviously jumps very high.” 

“She set the example this summer in the weight room first, then on the volleyball court,” Russell said. “She has a line shot that is tough to defend.” 

All three have been in the program four years, becoming varsity contributors as juniors. 

Last season Flathead went a respectable 6-8 in league, but the Western AA was top-heavy and divisionals didn’t go great. 

That helped set the stage for 2025. 

“I’d say it’s been consistent,” Thornsberry said of the Bravettes’ play. “We’ve been growing as a team, too, which has been fun. We gained a lot of confidence, especially after beating Glacier. It shot up from there.” 

Glacier is 2-7 in league matches despite talented hitters like Allie Krueger and Grace Lingle. These girls know each other — O’Dell and Glacier’s Marlo Carpenter go way back as travel volleyball teammates — and the teams have generally played tight, throw-the-records-out matches. The Oct. 2 match was unusual. 

“I think they’ll come in swinging,” O’Dell said. “We know what we are in for, but we have a lot of energy and competitiveness on this team. It’ll be a fun game for sure.” 

NOTE: This story has been updated to show Addison Thornsberry is an outside hitter and her brother Brody long jumps for the UM Grizzlies track and field team.