A day after their starters outlasted the Buckeyes over five tight sets, the Marauders second unit delivered a much more decisive statement Sunday.

Led by Craig Ireland's nine kills and 11.5 points, McMaster swept Ohio State 25-14, 25-17, 25-22 to seal a matching sweep of the teams' two-match Nike Team North America Challenge at the Burridge Gym.

The win improved McMaster's record against the two-time defending NCAA champions to 5-2, including wins in each of the teams' last five matches.

The third-year outside hitter Ireland was the match's leading scorer, while fellow third-year player Connor Santoni and former Mohawk Mountaineer Nathan Delguidice posted matching totals of 8.5 points, with five and six kills respectively.

Outside Todd Herget led the Buckeyes with 10 kills in the loss, hitting 21 per cent with five errors from 24 attempts.

McMaster held Ohio State to just 13.4 per cent hitting over the course of the match, while hitting 27 per cent themselves.

Most efficient in the second set, the Marauders scored at a 44 per cent clip while racking up 11 kills versus just four errors from 16 attempts.

OPENING STATEMENT: The hosts posted their most lopsided set win of the weekend in the first set of Sunday's match, and their second-largest margin of victory against Ohio State. Finding the sideline with an ace, Dylan Romero-Marshall sent the teams into the technical timeout in set one with the Marauders leading 16-10, and their lead would only grow from there. Mac ultimately won by an 11-point margin, with Ireland's three kills and one ace leading the way.

GET THE BROOM: Sunday's result was McMaster's second sweep of Ohio State, and second in the team's past three matches. The Marauders also handled the Buckeyes in straight sets in the inaugural edition of the Nike Team Challenge on Dec. 30, 2016.

OLD HANDS, NEW YEAR: Sunday marked the return of setter Calvin Lee to the Marauders lineup for the first time since 2016, as he started and played all three sets of the win, notching 21 assists. Lee suffered a season-ending injury before the onset of Mac's 2016-17 season, and last suited up for the Marauders in their regular-season finale on Feb. 20, 2016.

NEXT UP: The Marauders open their conference schedule at home on Friday, Oct. 27 against the Ryerson Rams. Game time is set for 8:00 p.m. at the Burridge Gym.